What happens to power as the level of control and discretion decreases for the line officer?

As the level of control and discretion decreases for a line officer, power is diminished. This is because line officers typically possess the authority to make decisions and exercise their judgment based on their designated responsibilities. When their control is limited or their discretion is reduced, they inherently have less ability to influence situations or make impactful decisions.

This phenomenon can be seen in organizational structures where oversight expands, such as through increased bureaucracy or additional layers of management. In such cases, the directives from higher authority may override the line officer’s decision-making power, resulting in a relinquishing of their ability to act independently and effectively. Consequently, when officers are less empowered to make choices, their overall power within the operational context is diminished.

Options that suggest power remains unchanged, increases, or is redistributed do not accurately capture the dynamics of authority and autonomy in this scenario. The decrease in discretion directly correlates to a decrease in power.