delimmas

One of the great things about my job is that I have a lot of discretion in what I do - within the law I get a great deal of leeway in how to deal with most situations and how to resolve them. It can be a great tool at times as well - deciding whether or not to arrest someone or cut them a break, stopping a particular violation in hopes of finding something more & all that. I truly think one of the things that separates the good cops from the adequate is just knowing how to use their discretion appropriately.

Unfortunately, a few situations we really don't have much (without blatantly ignoring things that is - not saying it never happens, just that I try to avoid being in that position). Domestic assaults - we have no choice, someone goes to jail. Shoplifters, same deal (a pet peeve of our judges for some reason).

This week I got caught in another one - didn't regret it, just kind of felt bad for the guy.

Stopped him in the classic "it's my girlfriend's car, I'm just running to get gas." BUT, the guy was 100% honest from the start, told me he didn't have a license and was suspended because of some DUI's. Was very straightforward about everything. Didn't run on me. Didn't lie. Didn't play games - I was ready to cut him what breaks I would, write his ticket & let him call for a ride for being honest.

Unfortunately, the position he was in - he'd been caught driving on his revoked license enough times that it was now a felony offense. And the way our rules read, I don't have the option of just writing him a ticket on a felony - I have to take him before the magistrate for it and get a warrant. Not only that, I had to impound the car for thirty days at his expense - runs about $1300 or so.

Of course, I'm under no illusions it was this guy's first time driving when he wasn't supposed to - this time he just got caught. But I did feel kind of bad that he was honest and straightforward and still took the ride to jail...

Maybe now he'll get the point.