--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The policeman on the beat or in the…" description: "\"The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every day and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/warren-e-burger-20339_beats_the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patr_16701.jpg" --- # The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more… ![“The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every day and to a greater extent, in many respects, than a judge will ordinarily exercise in a week.” quote by Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/warren-e-burger-20339_beats_the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patr_16701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/warren-e-burger-20339_beats_the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patr_16701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cea/warren-e-burger-20339_beats_the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patr_16701.jpg) > “The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every day and to a greater extent, in many respects, than a judge will ordinarily exercise in a week.” [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Police officers make frequent, on-the-spot decisions that shape everyday life, often wielding more practical authority than judges do in a typical week. **In simple terms:** Police discretion outweighs judicial reach daily. Key Takeaway Everyday policing has massive societal impact. Themes authority discretion law enforcement societal impact judicial comparison Mood reflective critical Type observation analysis When to use this quote - traffic stops - community patrols - emergency response - public order maintenance Key Concepts decision-making public safety legal authority Practical Applications - policy training for officers - community outreach programs Questions to Reflect On - How does police discretion affect public trust? - What safeguards can balance police authority? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Policemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policemen/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [For better or worse, editing is what editors are for; and editing is selection and choice of material. That editors newspaper or broadcast can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/for-better-or-worse-editing-is-what-editors-are-for-and-editing-is/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [“The heart often turns rogue and makes decisions without informing us or providing advanced notice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-intindola-gandolfo-1987/the-heart-often-turns-rogue-and-makes-decisions-without-informing-us/) RJ Intindola – (Gandolfo) – 1987 > [At crucial junctures, every individual makes decisions and … every decision is individual,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-hilberg/at-crucial-junctures-every-individual-makes-decisions-and-every/) [Raul Hilberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-hilberg/) > [I'm a man who makes his own decisions and sticks with them; I think there's a lot of integrity in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/i-m-a-man-who-makes-his-own-decisions-and-sticks-with-them-i-think/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [A president must make decisions based upon principle and stand by the principles by which he makes decisions in order to achieve peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-president-must-make-decisions-based-upon-principle-and-stand-by-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [By the time you become the leader of a country, someone else makes all the decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/by-the-time-you-become-the-leader-of-a-country-someone-else-makes-all/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [Who makes decisions for families across America? Should it be a family with their doctor, or should it be some unelected bureaucrat in Washington?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/who-makes-decisions-for-families-across-america-should-it-be-a-family/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/a-true-principle-makes-decisions-clear-even-under-the-most-confusing/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [You make decisions, take actions, affect the world, receive feedback from the world, incorporate it into yourself, then the updated 'you' makes more decisions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-hofstadter/you-make-decisions-take-actions-affect-the-world-receive-feedback/) [Douglas Hofstadter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-hofstadter/) > [I don't trust a system where Putin makes all decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/i-don-t-trust-a-system-where-putin-makes-all-decisions/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Wisdom makes decisions today that will still be good tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/wisdom-makes-decisions-today-that-will-still-be-good-tomorrow/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [It's on the pitch you have to do your talking, and it is the coach who makes the decisions, so the best I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divock-origi/it-s-on-the-pitch-you-have-to-do-your-talking-and-it-is-the-coach-who/) [Divock Origi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divock-origi/) > [A wise man makes his own decisions,but an ignorant man follows the public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grantland-rice/a-wise-man-makes-his-own-decisions-but-an-ignorant-man-follows-the/) [Grantland Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grantland-rice/) > [Accepting responsibility for your life means you are aware that you know it is yourself who makes decisions for where it goes. No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-means-you-are-aware-that-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Every nation makes decisions based on self-interest and defends them on the basis of morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/every-nation-makes-decisions-based-on-self-interest-and-defends-them/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) ## More by Warren E. Burger > [The State may justify a limitation on religious liberty by showing it is essential to accomplish an overriding governmental interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-state-may-justify-a-limitation-on-religious-liberty-by-showing-it/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The Constitution does not require complete separation of church and state; it affirmatively mandates accommodation, not merely tolerance, of all religions, and forbids hostility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-constitution-does-not-require-complete-separation-of-church-and/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Crime and the fear of crime have permeated the fabric of American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/crime-and-the-fear-of-crime-have-permeated-the-fabric-of-american-life/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [However, when the privilege depends solely on the broad, undifferentiated claim of public interest in the confidentiality of such conversations, a confrontation with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/however-when-the-privilege-depends-solely-on-the-broad/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Is the challenge to every lawyer and judge in America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/is-the-challenge-to-every-lawyer-and-judge-in-america/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The men who wrote the First Amendment religion clause did not view paid legislative chaplains and opening prayers as a violation of that amendment...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-men-who-wrote-the-first-amendment-religion-clause-did-not-view/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Calculated risks of abuse are taken in order to preserve higher values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/calculated-risks-of-abuse-are-taken-in-order-to-preserve-higher-values/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [There may be some incorrigible human beings who cannot be changed except by God's own mercy to that one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/there-may-be-some-incorrigible-human-beings-who-cannot-be-changed/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [ \[No one will be able to\] deter the scientific mind from probing into the unknown any more than Canute could command the tides. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/no-one-will-be-able-to-deter-the-scientific-mind-from-probing-into/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [The president's need for complete candor and objectivity from advisers calls for great deference from the courts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-president-s-need-for-complete-candor-and-objectivity-from/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [It is not unprofessional to give free legal advice, but advertising that the first visit will be free is a bit like a fox…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/it-is-not-unprofessional-to-give-free-legal-advice-but-advertising/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Judges . . . rule on the basis of law, not public opinion, and they should...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/judges-rule-on-the-basis-of-law-not-public-opinion-and-they-should/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Trials by the adversarial contest must in time go the way of the ancient trial by battle and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/trials-by-the-adversarial-contest-must-in-time-go-the-way-of-the/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [“There can be no assumption that today's majority is 'right' and the Amish and others like them are 'wrong.' A way of life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/there-can-be-no-assumption-that-today-s-majority-is-right-and-the/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) > [Concepts of justice must have hands and feet...to carry out justice in every case in the shortest possible time and the lowest possible cost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/concepts-of-justice-must-have-hands-and-feet-to-carry-out-justice-in/) [Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) [Explore all 31 Warren E. Burger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/) ## More Beats quotes > [Histories never conclude; they just pause their prose. Their stories are, if they are truthful, untidy affairs, resistant to windings-up and sortings-out. They beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-schama/histories-never-conclude-they-just-pause-their-prose-their-stories/) [Simon Schama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-schama/) > [So many things beat upon us in a lifetime that simply enduring may seem almost beyond us… But the test a loving God has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/so-many-things-beat-upon-us-in-a-lifetime-that-simply-enduring-may/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you don't like club beats take a HIT OF E and you will love the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/if-you-don-t-like-club-beats-take-a-hit-of-e-and-you-will-love-the/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [Every pitcher can beat you, it doesn't matter how good you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/every-pitcher-can-beat-you-it-doesn-t-matter-how-good-you-are/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I don't know about the rest of the world, but I know in our region everyone is gunning to beat us. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/i-don-t-know-about-the-rest-of-the-world-but-i-know-in-our-region/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Grand business plans are all very well, but nothing beats dipping your toe in the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-bilimoria-karan-bilimoria/grand-business-plans-are-all-very-well-but-nothing-beats-dipping-your/) Baron Bilimoria Karan Bilimoria > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I don't like small birds. They hop around so merrily outside my window, looking so innocent. but I know that secretly, they're watching my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-like-small-birds-they-hop-around-so-merrily-outside-my-window/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 3,311 Beats quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every day and to a greater extent, in many respects, than a judge will ordinarily exercise in a week.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Warren E. 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