murphy's

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by dpg

Good to hear Just one comment I'd like to make about your statement. He's the chief, the boss, he doesn't need to "try" to channel anything, you (he) sit the officers down and "tells" them the way it's going to be.

That sounds good on paper but it is not reality.

A chief can set the tone and tell his men what he wants to see but ultimately it is subject to the judgement and character of the people he has working for him to determine the result.

A chief cannot be there to make every decision such as when a situation warrants an arrest, when a traffic stop results in a ticket being written, or when a vehicle needs to be towed. For example: A chief cannot legally tell his officers to ignore traffic violations, even if it is for one mile per hour over the speed limit.

Every situation an officer encounters from an automobile accident to a domestic incident requires a thoughtful response. In most cases the initial officer on the scene sets the solution into motion on his or her own without the direct input of a superior. Some are better than others at determining the appropriate response.

As it is in many situations in life, the outcome is determined by the judgement and experience of the people involved.