Decision Making Case Study

CJA 444 Organizational Behavior and Management

Decision Making Case Study

Trent Taylor

Patrick Kelly

University of Phoenix

November 12, 2012

Following numerous high speed vehicular pursuits, one of which caused the death of a teenager on a joyride, the department adopted new policies to govern officers engaged in vehicular pursuits. In addition to the new policies regarding pursuits, the department also created new policies on use of force and when it is acceptable to discharge their weapons. Even though all the officers in the department have accepted the new policies and additional training associated with them, Officer Raymond Ripley seems to disregard them at any opportunity. The core issue at hand is officers in this department disobey orders from their superiors as well as disregard department policies and guidelines whenever it suits them. Officer Ripley seems to be an officer most notorious offender considering his long history of engaging in vehicular and foot pursuits, carrying weapons he is not trained for or authorized to use, and his use of a family pet as a police k-9 that has not been trained as a k-9.

I believe officer Ripley is in violation of the department’s use of force policies. First of all, as stated earlier Officer Ripley is in possession of a less than lethal weapon without training or permission to carry said weapon. Officer Ripley discharged said weapon against the driver of the moving vehicle. While it is unknown what the department policies are considering this situation, numerous law enforcement agencies in the nation prohibit or discourage such action as it can cause collateral damage. For example; The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office use of force guidelines states additional consideration should be taken by officers before deploying their less than lethal Tasers against vehicle or machinery operators because of an increased risk of injury or death to the offender, officer, or innocent bystanders. Secondly;...