Oath of Office
104.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that oaths, when appropriate, are administered to department members.
104.1.1 OATH OF OFFICE
Upon employment, all employees shall be required to affirm the oath of office expressing commitment and intent to respect constitutional rights in discharging the duties of a law enforcement officer (Cal. Const. Art. 20, § 3; Government Code § 3102). The oath shall be as follows:
I, [employee name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.
In addition, all peace officer employees shall be required to affirm the following oath of office, specific to the University of California, administered by the Chief of Police or his/her designee:
I, [employee name] do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I am a citizen of the United Staes, that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, the Constitution and laws of the State of California, and the Rules and Regulations of the Regents of the University of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office or position to the best of my ability.
104.1.2 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYEES
It is the duty and responsibility of each employee to fulfill to the greatest possible extent the functions of the University of California Police and to perform to the best of the employee's ability those duties assigned by a supervisor.
104.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the University of California Santa Cruz Police Department that, when appropriate, department members affirm the oath of their office as an expression of commitment to the constitutional rights of those served by the Department and the dedication of its members to their duties.
104.3 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS
The oath of office shall be filed as prescribed by law (Government Code § 3105).
