THE HIDDEN OATH
(and the hidden details)
THE HIDDEN OATH (and the hidden details)
Let’s examine another oath:
KSP CODE OF ETHICS
KENTUCKY STATE POLICE SWORN OFFICERS SHALL ADHERE TO AND ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING: "AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, MY FUNDAMENTAL DUTY IS TO SERVE MANKIND; TO SAFEGUARD LIVES AND PROPERTY; TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT AGAINST DECEPTION, THE WEAK AGAINST OPPRESSION OR INTIMIDATION, AND THE PEACEFUL AGAINST VIOLENCE OR DISORDER; AND TO RESPECT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF ALL PERSONS TO LIBERTY, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE."
"I WILL KEEP MY PRIVATE LIFE UNSULLIED AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL; MAINTAIN COURAGEOUS CALM IN THE FACE OF DANGER, SCORN OR RIDICULE; DEVELOP SELF-RESTRAINT; AND BE CONSTANTLY MINDFUL OF THE WELFARE OF OTHERS. HONEST IN THOUGHT AND DEED IN BOTH MY PERSONAL AND OFFICIAL LIFE, I WILL BE EXEMPLARY IN OBEYING THE LAWS OF THE LAND AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE AGENCY. WHATEVER I SEE OR HEAR OF A CONFIDENTIAL NATURE, OR IS CONFIDED TO ME IN MY OFFICIAL CAPACITY, SHALL BE KEPT SECRET UNLESS REVELATION IS NECESSARY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY."
"I WILL NEVER ACT OFFICIOUSLY OR PERMIT PERSONAL FEELINGS, PREJUDICES, ANIMOSITIES OR FRIENDSHIPS TO INFLUENCE MY DECISIONS. WITH NO COMPROMISE FOR CRIME AND WITH RELENTLESS PROSECUTION OF CRIMINALS, I WILL ENFORCE THE LAW COURTEOUSLY AND APPROPRIATELY WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR, MALICE OR ILL WILL, NEVER EMPLOYING UNNECESSARY FORCE OR VIOLENCE AND NEVER ACCEPTING GRATUITIES."
"I RECOGNIZE THE BADGE OF MY OFFICE AS A SYMBOL OF PUBLIC FAITH AND I ACCEPT IT AS A PUBLIC TRUST TO BE HELD AS LONG AS I AM TRUE TO THE ETHICS OF POLICE SERVICE. I WILL CONSTANTLY STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES AND IDEALS, DEDICATING MYSELF BEFORE GOD TO MY CHOSEN PROFESSION: LAW ENFORCEMENT."
Wow! No wonder he stays silent when reading it. Those are powerful words! Do you think he has kept this vow? I’ll bet as you read it he will feel at least some guilt as he realizes he has not. Ask him what the word “officiously” means. If you don’t know you should look it up. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/officiously
Whoever wrote this had some pretty high standards. Yes, it says “law enforcement” but there is so much here to work with that by the time you are done reading it you will be able to convict his conscience with little to no effort. If he is abusing the law to harass you in a traffic stop and you can’t make this work you must not have been trying very hard. I don’t think the Pope could bear this oath without falling to his knees. There is no wiggle room for the child ego state to remain in control. You should practice using it to exorcise the parent ego too as it might leave room for self-justification.
Let’s look at another and see if there is a pattern
