Community Policing, Discretionary Authority Under

Underlying any discussion of community policing and discretion is a curious dichotomy. If the public were polled about ideal policing, many would respond favorably to the idea that police should be firm, fair, and impartial—a common image of a state or metropolitan police officer. But others would respond that more individualized policing, such as that in small towns where the officer knows everybody and everybody knows the officer, is the ideal. Yes, the small-town officer treats different people differently, but it is because she or he knows them personally, knows their history, knows what to expect from them, and knows what will work to set them straight. Basically, the public wants equal and consistent enforcement of the law, but they also want the police to ...