Decisions, Discretion, and Accountability
Description
Read the Sidebar 11-1, “Police Discretion in an Unfolding Disturbance Call” in the “New Perspectives on Police Discretion” section of Ch. 11, “Police Discretion,” of The Police in America. Police Discretion in an Unfolding Disturbance Call Stage 1: Officer dispatched to 911 call about a “disturbance.” Officer response: How should the officer prepare himself or herself for the call? Stage 2: Officer arrives on scene and discovers that there is a mentally ill person acting out. Officer response: What actions should the officer take? Call for backup? Handle the situation alone? Stage 3: The mentally ill person says he will kill the officer. Officer response: Should the officer change his or her plan of action? If so, in what way? Draw his or her weapon? Call for backup (if not done already)? Attempt verbal de-escalation? Stage 4: The mentally ill person picks up a baseball bat. Officer response: What should the officer do? Order the person to drop the bat? Threaten to shoot him? Attempt verbal de-escalation? Stage 5: The mentally ill person says, “Go ahead and shoot me. I want to die.” Officer response: What should the officer do now? Shoot him? Try more verbal de-escalation? Stage 6: The mentally ill person throws the bat away. (It is now at a safe distance from him.) Officer response: What should the officer do now? Order him to lie on the ground? Threaten arrest? Stage 7: The mentally ill person falls to the ground, crying. Officer response: Now what should the officer do? Final stage: What should the officer do to bring the incident to an end? Consider the different stages the officer is faced with in the scenario. Select stage four, five, or six and review the officer response provided. Create a 10- to 12-slide PowerPoint® presentation in which you: Describe possible decision points that the officer may have faced. Explain how one decision the officer could have made modeled abuse of discretion or modeled positive use of discretion. Describe factors that may limit the officer’s discretion. Explain at least three internal and external mechanisms police departments use for accountability. Incorporate at least two academic references outside of your textbook in your presentation. Include detailed speaker notes, the notes should be equivalent to you presenting to a group.
