How to issue a citation

I just started playing the detective career today for the first time. On day two I went on patrol.. and maybe I lucked out but there was a group in one of the picnic areas (there were two picnic areas.. where I was in newcrest) There were two fights like back to back I issued three citations one was for Bob Pancakes :). The best part of it was he also made me lunch.... I finished that day and got promoted to an officer.. Maybe they have tweaked it since the game came out or I just got lucky? It's not hard so far but it is funny.