Examples are presented to illustrate how much police action is regulated by discretion granted officers under law and what degree of consistency is imposed by the customary practices preserved in the occupational culture. Also examined are how practical is the influence of conventional interpretations of the police role and how much the interactional skills and tactics of individual officers facilitate their resolution of problematic incidents. In these examples, the legal and organizational culture frameworks are an influence, but not the major focus. Rather, the officers used interactional tactics and negotiation skills in response to situational dictates and were oriented toward maintaining their own personal safety, maintaining control over the unfolding situation, and securing a short-term resolution to the situation. 43 references.