zero tolerance policing

[Legoate]

Also, if you guys were to implement zero tolerance policing (like the strategy used in New York City)as a formal policy for your police department what changes would you make to it so it would work better?

I wouldn't implement one. Instead I'd hire officers that had enough intelligence that I could trust their judgement and discretion to do the right thing.

You keep asking us about zero tolerance, but you seem to be the one with all the answers. It keeps being repeated over and over that officers need to be allowed to use their personal judgement to fit each situation and decide what enforcement actions they need to take.

Example- I just got caught today with my brother as a ride-along. I told him I basically had a zero-tolerance rule for redlight infractions. Not too long afterwards I stopped someone for running a light and sent them on their way after a bit of a lecture and a warning. I felt in that instance that a ticket wasn't warranted- the persons attitude, past driving record, and current circumstances dictated that I issue a warning. For most of police work, we are not only working with enforcement, we are also trying to educate the public. Sometimes all a normal citizen needs is a police contact to let them know that they need to change their ways.