1) Find out more about the importance of administrative rulemaking in guiding officer discretion and behavior. Go to www.laaw.com . Under the "Articles" link, click on "Policies" and read the article entitled, "Written Policy: Foundation for Officer Accountability." Besides simply providing a policy manual to officers, what additional steps should police agencies take to make sure officers understand departmental policies? Can policies be more restrictive than applicable to law? 2) The decision to initiate a high-speed pursuit is one of the most important issues in officer discretionary decision-making. Research the law in your state. Are there any statutes that address police pursuits? Check out several police agencies in your state. Do they provide any policies or guidelines on high-speed pursuits? How would you classify the policies? Are they restrictive, discouraging or discretionary? In your opinion, do you believe the statutes and/or policies provide clear guidance to officers about initiating police pursuits? |