Officer Smith is patrolling a city park at night. He comes across a man and woman kissing in a parked car, and tells them that it is not legal to be in the park after dark and that they need to move along. Later, he comes across two men in a parked car. Instead of telling them to move on, Officer Smith writes a citation for the driver. By allowing the first couple to leave without being cited, despite the fact that technically they were guilty of an infraction, the Officer Smith was exhibiting _____________________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Officer Smith was exhibiting discretion by choosing not to cite the first couple for their infraction, a common practice in law enforcement where officers may decide on the spot how to apply the law based on the circumstances they encounter.

Officer Smith Is Patrolling a City Park at Night