"On my honor,
I will never betray my badge,
my integrity, my character,
or the public trust.
I will always have the courage
to hold myself and others
accountable for our actions.
I will always uphold the Constitution,
the community,
and the agency I serve,
so help me God."
Every single officer calling in sick or refusing to render aid in response to the current predominant national sentiment toward the police has sworn some variation of this oath.
There are no exceptions in this oath for when an officer feels that his profession is unfairly treated, or when an officer feels that his profession is unappreciated.
"I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions."
Even if that means a murder charge being levied on an officer who shot a fleeing teen in a crowded parking lot.
"I will always uphold the Constitution, the community, and the agency I serve, so help me God."
Even if broad swathes of the community hate you, castigates the agency you serve, and dubs each one of you villains and bastards.
"I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust."
Even if people are demanding that the government take away your tanks and demand that you receive more “not killing civilians” training.
It cannot possibly be easy to be a police officer in America right now. It cannot possibly be pleasant to be a police officer in America right now. Police officers serving in America right now must be under magnificent stress. But each one of those officers swore an oath on their sacred honor to always serve the public good. Not 'sometimes', or 'when they feel like it', or 'after everyone stops being so mean'. Always.
Upholding the agency they serve cannot possibly mean allowing the public to come to harm through inaction. In fact, it means precisely the opposite.
They did not swear an oath to protect their brothers and sisters in blue from experiencing consequences for their actions. In fact, they swore an oath to do precisely the opposite.
They did not swear an oath to fulfill their function only so long as they are broadly treated with respect and as heroes of the community. They swore to do so always.
The Atlanta Police Department is still functioning. Reports vary, so I have no real way of knowing what percentage of officers "walked off" today and yesterday, though it's a high enough number for a union rep to be forced to acknowledge it. That said, it should be known that if an Atlanta citizen has an emergency and calls the police, they will still receive a police response, though it might take longer than usual.
Being a police officer should be hard. It is hard. And it's a lot harder right now. It can't possibly make someone feel more enthusiastic to put their life at risk when the predominant national conversation concerns whether or not the institution they've dedicated their lives to should be defunded or abolished. It can't possibly feel good to see most vocal Leftists arguing passionately with one another on whether all cops are bastards or just most cops are bastards. But that's the job they signed up for. That's the ideal to which they swore a sacred oath. Every single officer who advocates a "blue flu" walkout has betrayed their vow, their honor, and their integrity.
