EPISODE 157

Use it or Lose it:

The Essence of Officer Discretion

Mar 15, 2024 | Podcast

An officer with a handcuffed subject in a spotlight

There are over 18,000 police Chiefs and Sheriffs in the United States, and every one of them has their own version of what right and wrong looks like. But unless they plan on showing up at every traffic stop, they are going to have to trust that their Officers and Deputies on the front lines are doing the best they can.

Empowering law enforcement officers with discretion to use their best judgment is a necessary part of policing, but there are some serious gotchas that we have to watch out for to maintain that responsibility and the trust of the people we serve.

Find us on social media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/YouTube) @TacTangents
You can join the conversation in our Facebook Discussion Group.
Find all of our episodes, articles, some reading list ideas, and more on our website www.tacticaltangents.com

Like what we’re doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe.

Intro music credit Bensound.com

CLICK BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE NOW ON YOUR FAVORITE PLAYER

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! PLEASE GO CHECK THEM OUT

Lowa Boots Logo
POM Pepper Spray Logo

Recent Episodes

Teaching the Enemy: Lessons from The Dragons and the Snakes

Teaching the Enemy: Lessons from The Dragons and the Snakes

From guerrilla warfare and liminal conflict to use-of-force doctrine and law enforcement tactics, this episode connects military theory to street-level realities. Are we in a new kind of war without even knowing it? And what are we teaching our opponents every time we act?

It’s Chess AND Checkers–Tactics and Strategy Unite!

It’s Chess AND Checkers–Tactics and Strategy Unite!

Why do we focus so much on tactics and so little on strategy? In this episode, Mike and Jim tackle the divide between street-level action and big-picture thinking. Drawing on lessons from policing, the military, and community crime prevention, they explore how individual cops, community members, and leaders can influence criminal decision-making—not just react to it.

Topics include resource constraints, the Broken Windows theory, and strategies for shifting offender perceptions to prevent crime before it occurs.