Shove your jackboots where the sun don't shine.
I notice that he wasn't charged with theft - I wonder if he really stole the salad or not?
Maybe he was just hogging the bacon bits.
The "quick-draw McGraw tactics" were brought about by the perps' own actions. He was in complete control of the situation from beginning to end. Conservatives are big on personal responsibility, and we leave the sniveling whining and excuse-mongering to liberals.
So let me understand you correctly (without putting words in your mouth). The manager saw someone helping themself to something they did not pay for. The person was uncooperative with the manager, so the manager calls the police.
The police arrives, and not wanting to make a scene in front of the children ask the person to step outside to discuss it.
The person refuses.
Ok to this point?
Now, if I understand you correctly, the police are just to walk away because either A. Children are present, B. The man is un-cooperative, B. The value of the property being taken is too small to be concerned with.
What would you suggest the manager do if they see someone taking something without paying for it (and the cost of the item does not matter, it is not theirs to take without paying for it)?
What would you suggest the police do if a person refuses to cooperate, or are you of the idea that a citizen is under no oblication to answer any question at any time from a police officer.
If there was a misunderstanding it could have been cleared up before the police were called, and certainly once they arrived if the man would have simply showed his receipt or offered to pay for the salad.
You are too quick to blame the police officer, me, I would wonder about the stability of anyone when question by a store manager would not want to clear it up before the police had to be called.
A little testy there, are we?