Final answer:
Once a citation is issued, an officer typically can't just tear it up; changes must be done through proper channels, often involving a supervisor. An officer might issue a warning or amend the citation, but the process must adhere to legal requirements and maintain integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Once an officer has issued a citation for an infraction or misdemeanor offense, the officer does not typically have the power to simply tear up the citation if she changes her mind. The officer must adhere to the legal and departmental procedures. If an officer decides that the citation should not be issued after all, the appropriate action would be to consult with a supervisor for guidance.
In some cases, rather than tearing up a citation, an officer may issue a warning instead or may amend the citation with additional information. However, this does not mean that the original citation is destroyed or invalidated without following due process.