The GACP



Law Enforcement OfficerOath of OfficeIt is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the American public. Serving as a law enforcement officer in a democratic society requires officers always perform their sacred duties in a way that recognizes, respects, and protects the rights of the citizens they serve. Failing to perform to these standards erodes the public trust and their agency’s legitimacy. It is for these reasons, each public officer takes an Oath of Office prior to assuming their duties. While there is no standard format required of police agencies, it is important specific language is included in the oath to ensure an officer may be held accountable for violating their oath. Specifically, all public officers must:Take an oath of officeTake any oath proscribed by the Constitution of Georgia;Swear he/she is not the holder of any unaccounted for public money due to the State or any political subdivision or authority thereof;Swear he/she is not the holder of any office of trust under the government of the United States, any other state, or any foreign state which he or she is by the laws of the State of Georgia prohibited from holding;Swear he/she is otherwise qualified to hold said office according to the Constitution and laws of Georgia; andSwear he/she will support the Constitution of the United States and of this State.The Oath of Office can only be administered by a person who is expressly authorized to administer an oath (i.e. Judge). A chief of police may only administer the Oath of Office if they are expressly authorized under the City Charter. An oath administered by a police chief who is not authorized in the City Charter is not considered to be valid. After the oath is administered, it should be signed by both parties and retained by the department. It is important to note that failure to take an oath does not invalidate the actions taken by the officer in the performance of their duties. It does, however, eliminate the ability by the agency to hold the individual accountable for Violation for the Oath of Office.Several sample Oaths of Office that comply with state law and can be easily modified to meet a department’s specific needs have been included below.For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police at 770-495-9650.Sample 1Official Oath of OfficeI,_____________ do hereby solemnly swear (or affirm) that:I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; I will support and defend the Constitution of the State of Georgia;I will support and defend the Charter and Ordinances of the___________________________I am not the holder of any office of trust under the government of the United States, any other state, or any foreign state which I am by the laws of the State of Georgia prohibited from holding;I am otherwise qualified to hold the office of a peace officer according to the Constitution and laws of the State of Georgia;I am not the holder of any unaccountable public money due this state or any political subdivision or authority thereof; andI will faithfully follow the orders of the Chief of Police, and to the best of my ability, faithfully and justly perform the duties and obligations of a police officer in an honorable, benevolent, civil and, egalitarian manner during my commission therein.So help me.Signature of Person Being SwornOfficial Conducting the OathSworn, subscribed, and Witnesses before me, this day ofMonth , YearSample 2Oath of OfficeI, ____________________________do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Georgia, the Ordinances of the _________________________and faithfully discharge my duties fairly and impartially as a Police Officer of the _______City/County/School________________________.I, ____________________________ do further swear (or affirm) that I am not the holder of any unaccounted for public money due this state or any political subdivision or authority thereof; that I am not the holder of any office of trust under the government of the United States, any other state, or any foreign state which I am by the laws of the State of Georgia prohibited from holding; and that I am otherwise qualified to hold said office according to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and Laws of Georgia; and that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this State._________________________Officer’s Signature_________________________Official Conducting the OathSworn to and subscribed before me, this ________day of Month , Year.Sample 3Oath of OfficeI ____________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the State of Georgia; that I will faithfully perform all the duties of my office; that I will faithfully observe all the rules, orders and regulations of the________________; and that I will faithfully enforce the laws of the State of Georgia and the ordinances of the _____________________. I do further swear (or affirm) that I am not the holder of any unaccounted for public money due this State or any political subdivision or authority thereof; that I am not the holder of any office of trust under the government of the United States, any other State, or any foreign state which, by the laws of the State of Georgia, I am prohibited from holding; and that I am otherwise qualified to be a police officer according to the Constitution and the laws of Georgia.I do further swear (or affirm) that, as a Law Enforcement Police Officer, I will faithfully serve and protect, to the best of my ability, all citizens regardless of race, color or creed.I accept the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics of the International Association of Chiefs of Police as my standard of conduct while on and off-duty and swear to faithfully abide by and defend the same.____________________ Officer’s Signature_______________________(Signature of person entitled to give the Oath of Office)Sworn to and subscribed before me, this ____day of Month , YearSample 4Oath of OfficeI, ________________________, a citizen of the United States of America, and being an employee of the City of ______________________ and the recipient of public funds for services rendered as such employee;I do solemnly swear that I will perform the duties of a police officer to the best of my ability; andThat I will faithfully discharge the duties I am about to enter.I also swear that I am not the holder of any unaccounted public money due this State or any political subdivision or authority thereof.I also swear that I am not the holder of any office of any trust under the Government of the United States, any other State, or any Foreign State which by the law of the State of Georgia I am prohibited from holding.I also swear that I am otherwise qualified to hold said office according to the Constitution and Laws of Georgia. I also swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of this State and the Charter of Ordinances of this City.__________________________Officer’s Name__________________________Chief of Police _______________________________Name of City__________________________Notary PublicSworn to and Subscribed Before me this ____________________________ (SEAL) ................
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