"As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, the peaceful against violence and disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.”

That is the first paragraph of the Law Enforcement Officer’s Code of Ethics , which nearly every law enforcement officer in America repeats out loud when sworn in as a police officer .

I took this oath on Aug. 2, 1965.

It is totally different from the oath a soldier takes when sworn into the military.

Here’s an excerpt from the U.S. Military Oath of Enlistment : “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against

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