Obviously, the police department is looking into it. I can't imagine that any punishment handed down in an official capacity is going to trump what his coworkers have to say about it. But let's be real about the situation.
If I'm a cop, this is not a move I make. I'd imagine that if I were wearing a uniform, I could convince any gas station owner to let me use their can. And if I'm really hurting, well ... that's what empty Propel bottles are for ... you know, the perfect sized opening and all that.
But no man on this planet can sit there and pretend that they haven't done this. You know why? Because we can.
You ladies are relegated to finding bushes. And I feel for you, really. Every time I come out of a movie and see the line snaking out of the women's room, I wince a little.
But for men, the world is our toilet if we choose. Gotta go after attending a big concert? Open the car door and stand behind it. Camping? Find a good-sized tree. In a crowded bar bathroom? Don't shoulder your way to the trough, find an open sink! It's just who we are.
So I seriously hope this guy doesn't get into too much trouble for what's really just a lapse in judgment. Because I'd be willing to bet that, like all men, his superiors have found themselves in a similar bind at some point.
(Yes, assuming his superiors are all men is a sexist and blanket statement, but it works better with the point I'm trying to make. Don't freak out.)