Being a police officer for 18 years and currently a Patrol Lieutenant, this is an odd thing to assume because it against everything I believe and was taught. In most misdemeanor cases in Tennessee, officers have the discretion of whether to arrest or issue a citation. If the officer chooses to arrest, he must show a good reason such as there is a likelihood the offense will continue, there is a likelihood the offender would not show in court, or the arrestee has a warrant on file (Widgery, 2013). In felony cases, such as drugs for resale, the officer has no choice and has to arrest. So, if officers were arresting just on the basis of the offender being a minority; they could be charged with a civil right violation and the jails would
