dep214, I'll try to respond to your question. I guess you never let somebody go with a warning for say speeding or warned a bunch of teenagers to stay away from someplace they shouldn't have been instead of hauling them in? You never wrote a ticket for 73 mph in a 55 mph zone instead of the 80 the guy was doing because you knew it would be the difference in a fine he could afford and learn his lesson (perhaps) instead of losing his license and possibly his job?
When zero tolerance for anything is utilized instead of common sense and perhaps even a bit of compassion, everybody loses, even the officer.