FOLLOWING A SUMMARY OF THE PROBLEM OF WIDE POLICE DISCRETION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS, A CASE STUDY INVOLVING THE ENFORCEMENT OF A HITCHHIKING LAW BY THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE IS GIVEN. THE STUDY SHOWS THAT, ALTHOUGH THE TOP ADMINISTRATION CAN SET THE TONE FOR THE ORGANIZATION, IT IS THE OFFICER ON THE STREET WHO ULTIMATELY DETERMINES HOW ORDER IS MAINTAINED OR LOST. VARIOUS PLANS TO CONTROL DISCRETION ARE REVIEWED, INCLUDING THOSE SET FORTH BY THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCHERS, AND THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN EXECUTIVE LEVEL DECISIONS AND LINE OFFICER INTERPRETATIONS ARE EXAMINED. THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTING FOR THE EXERCISE OF POLICE DISCRETION, THE COMMAND SYSTEM AS A CONSTRAINT ON INDIVIDUAL DECISIONMAKING, AND THE ACTUAL POLICE SITUATION WHICH ENCOURAGES SUCH DISCRETION ARE ALL EXAMINED. A TECHNIQUE TERMED 'THE COOPERATIVE MODEL OF FIRST-LINE SUPERVISION' IS THEN PRESENTED. TABLES SUMMARIZE ATTITUDES FOUND AMONG FIRST-LINE SUPERVISORS, TROOPERS, AND UPPER-LEVEL ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL IN THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT TIME OF STUDY. EFFECTS OF THESE ATTITUDES ON OFFICER DISCRETION, CHANGES IN ATTITUDE NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISION OF TROOPER DISCRETION, AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE ARE COVERED. EFFECTIVE FIRST-LINE SUPERVISION IS CALLED ESSENTIAL IF EXECUTIVE DECISIONS ARE TO BE REFLECTED IN ACTUAL FIELD BEHAVIOR. CLEAR ARTICULATION OF DISCRETIONARY RULES IS RECOMMENDED. FOOTNOTES CONTAIN REFERENCES. (GLR)