By Dr. Ray Kessler, who is, incidentally, a retired Prof. of Criminal Justice, former defense attorney and prosecutor is your host. I am also a part-time instructor in Criminal Justice at Richland College, an outstanding, 2-year institution in Dallas, TX.
https://richlandcollege.edu/
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Friday, March 16, 2012
San Francisco Sheriff Pleads Guilty
San Francisco Sheriff pleads guilty in domestic incident.
After reading the articles linked in the story, this could be one of two things: Either one of those "zero tolerance" arrests or "if we take one we have to take both" scenarios, or maybe a combination of the two.
If all he did was "bruise" her arm when he grabbed her to prevent her from leaving, it tells me there is a policy that says any kind of PC means an arrest, and thus voids nearly any utilization of common sense or discretion. The pressure to make an arrest to reduce liability and heat from admin always weighs in heavy.
The other possibility any cop would know about: A call with an arguing couple and neither will leave for the evening. The PC is pretty weak, but they know if once they clear the call without an arrest they will be more than likely be dispatched back later. Nip it in the bud.
I'm all for hammering public officials for law and ethical violations, but with the stakes so high (media inquiries, public outcries, domestic violence convictions and resultant carry/ownership issues, admin second-guessing, etc.), a correct decision is often too difficult for a street cop to make. And this applies not only to cops getting arrested but Joe Citizen as well.
Let's not over think this . . . there's a line between a verbal power struggle and a physical one . . . he crossed it. Good cops are good at demanding --- that talent must be confined to appropriate circumstances, however, and that requires unusual discrimination and self control.
After reading the articles linked in the story, this could be one of two things: Either one of those "zero tolerance" arrests or "if we take one we have to take both" scenarios, or maybe a combination of the two.
ReplyDeleteIf all he did was "bruise" her arm when he grabbed her to prevent her from leaving, it tells me there is a policy that says any kind of PC means an arrest, and thus voids nearly any utilization of common sense or discretion. The pressure to make an arrest to reduce liability and heat from admin always weighs in heavy.
The other possibility any cop would know about: A call with an arguing couple and neither will leave for the evening. The PC is pretty weak, but they know if once they clear the call without an arrest they will be more than likely be dispatched back later. Nip it in the bud.
I'm all for hammering public officials for law and ethical violations, but with the stakes so high (media inquiries, public outcries, domestic violence convictions and resultant carry/ownership issues, admin second-guessing, etc.), a correct decision is often too difficult for a street cop to make. And this applies not only to cops getting arrested but Joe Citizen as well.
Let's not over think this . . . there's a line between a verbal power struggle and a physical one . . . he crossed it. Good cops are good at demanding --- that talent must be confined to appropriate circumstances, however, and that requires unusual discrimination and self control.
ReplyDelete