Police Authority Figures

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Take a look around. Authority figures are everywhere. They are part of our everyday lives. We don’t normally describe them as authority figures but they are. Police officers are a perfect example of authority figures. They have many jobs and duties that give them authority. Police officers patrol specific areas, check for law violations and write citations, escort convoys, and provide information to pedestrians and motorists. All of these duties give police officers authority. One of the duties of being a police officer is patrolling a specific area. There are many ways a cop can do this. They can be on foot, on a motorcycle, or in a marked or unmarked patrol vehicle. They are responsible for watching out for dangers to anybody’s well-being. If they see something dangerous, they may call for back up, call another authority figure, or take care of the situation themselves. Another responsibility they have is making sure their plan of action is safe. If they do something dangerous, they might have consequences that are worse than the benefits. Officers must use their good judgment in this situation. …show more content…
Most of the time, they have violated the law. Sometimes the offender is lucky and is let off with a warning. Other times the person ends up getting a citation. It is the officer’s responsibility to write these citations when he feels it is necessary. Many factors go into play when the officer makes this decision. One of these factors could be the offender’s criminal history. If they have a history of the violation, more than likely they will be issued a citation. The person violating the law doesn’t have to be in a vehicle. They can violate the law on foot also. If an officer determines someone is breaking the law, it is their duty to write the person a