Nationwide Adopting Of The Peace Officer Promise: A Pledge to Do No Harm.
In a groundbreaking move, police departments across the United States are taking a bold step toward reshaping the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Introducing "The Peace Officer Promise," the first-ever Hippocratic Oath for policing, designed to uphold the principle of "do no harm" while protecting and serving the public.
With an estimated 70 million interactions between police officers and community members each year, concerns about the use of force remain a critical issue. In response, the nonprofit organization Police2Peace has spearheaded this initiative to help law enforcement agencies build trust and strengthen ties with the communities they serve.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department in Columbia, South Carolina, became the first to adopt The Peace Officer Promise. Since then, more than 80 police chiefs and sheriffs nationwide have pledged their support, representing departments from Arizona State University to St. Paul, Minnesota. The initiative has also garnered the backing of municipal groups, community organizations, and national policing institutions like the National Policing Institute and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE).
The Peace Officer Promise is a simple yet powerful statement:
"We, the members of [insert policing agency name], promise that while doing our best to control crime, we will do everything in our power to do no harm to the communities we serve and protect."
This pledge goes beyond the traditional oath of upholding the Constitution and protecting the public. It acknowledges the potential harm that some policing strategies may unintentionally cause and commits to minimizing that harm.
Kym Craven, Executive Director of NAWLEE, expressed her organization's support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of building community trust and creating positive change in policing. "Programs like these will help build community trust and create change in policing," Craven said. "The Promise upholds the values that our members and stakeholders exhibit on a daily basis."
Jim Bueermann, a retired police chief with over 40 years of experience and past president of the National Policing Institute, echoed this sentiment. He described The Peace Officer Promise as a meaningful and straightforward reform that could reshape the future of policing. "The Peace Officer Promise is policing’s Hippocratic Oath," Bueermann noted. "This is simple, meaningful police reform that is not controversial."
The timing of this announcement is particularly poignant. May is a month when the nation honors law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, highlighted the significance of the timing, stating, "This month we honor the officers who fulfilled the promise they made to their communities, including risking and ultimately giving their lives. It’s fitting that the Peace Officer Promise is being made now."
By adopting The Peace Officer Promise, law enforcement agencies are making a public commitment to prioritize harm reduction, build trust, and foster safer communities. As Chief Michael Thompson of Arizona State University pointed out, "The Peace Officer Promise is a fantastic way for us to repair strained relationships and build new ones by creating a shared vision for policing that works for everyone."
In Ashland, Oregon, Chief Tighe O’Meara is taking the initiative a step further by involving local high school students in personalizing The Promise for their community. "This is about people, and the fact that only people count," O'Meara emphasized.
As more law enforcement agencies nationwide consider adopting The Peace Officer Promise, the potential for positive change in policing grows. This initiative offers a path forward, rooted in the principles of harm reduction and community trust, that could redefine what it means to serve and protect.
Sources Are Below
Press releases from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department
Learn More About The Peace Officer Promise at Police2Peace.org