Assignment: Police Discretion
Police discretion is essential to the success of the individual officer. Discretion determines the officer’s actions and modes of responsibility.
Resources: Introduction to Policing, Appendix C, and Electronic Reserve Readings: “FBI Training on the New Federal Deadly Force Policy” and “Deadly force in Defense of Life”
Due Date: Day 7 [Individual] forum
Review Introduction to Policing, pp. 120-123.
Read the Use of Force scenario in Appendix C.
Review the Electronic Reserve Readings: “FBI Training on the New Federal Deadly Force Policy” and “Deadly force in Defense of Life” found on the student web site.
Write a 350- to 700-word response evaluating the officer’s use of discretion by answering the following:
o Define discretion in your own words.
o Explain why discretion is exercised in your own words.
o Identify how the officer exercised discretion in the scenario (use p.120 of your text as a resource).
o Identify the factors influencing the officer’s discretion.
o In your opinion, did the officer use the appropriate course of action based on the principles of police discretion described in the text? Explain your answer.
