They are under an obligation as hired job holders to fulfill the terms of their employment. It will be necessary to clarify what those terms are since most police departments obviously have been operating without clear guidelines, but once those terms are establish, then they must fulfill them or lose their employment. Of course, no term of employment can be made based on the vague "serve and protect", but the possibility for improving on what is happening now exists. The legal scholars will have to debate on things for awhile, but in the meantime, the police departments need to get moving on working up some guidelines that eliminate human prejudice from a role in judgment making. And if a person cannot fit into those guidelines, they need to find a different kind of job.

it was in 2005 not very recently

No your wrong in your assumption. That same protection is afforded fire fighters. They arent obligated to run into every burning building. Their safety and lives are more important than yours. Yet we dont label them as racist. A cop isnt requirred to engage anyone if they fear for their own life in that situation

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NOT AT ALL - Who should protect us against the looters, rioters, arsonists, drive by shootings in urban neighborhoods etc?? WHy do people still emigrate here in droves???

ChelleShock... wow, I am dumbfounded to learn that information. They have no legal obligation to help or protect anybody? That makes me so mad, for the sheer stupidity of it all. WTF are they actually employed to do then? Be bigots, create snuff films in public for fun, and go home and get drunk? Within countries like Australia, by law, its the police force's job to uphold / enact the law. eg arrest people on the charges of murder. They don't create the law - but they do have to uphold it. What on earth is the "job" of the US police force then? The whole thing is illogical, insane, and just heartbreaking.

Sadly Nathan, you're right... and that's the loophole they clearly are taking advantage of. :( Hopefully things will start to improve ... hopefully.

I don't know why y'all are downvoting him. That is literally the law, as ruled on by the Supreme Court. It is not their job to protect and serve, they are under no legal obligation to help or protect anybody.

Oh well, in that case they can continue with the racism and brutality. So long as it's only their motto they are contradicting, there's no problem!

Then they have no reason to exist.

Horrible!

Burn!

*facepalm*

Absolutely not true. I have many police horror stories, and I have been there helping the VICTIMS of crime.

Careful you don’t choke on that boot. Lick, don’t swallow.

The US Republican party, is twisting the term and ideal of "defund" the police, into the Libs want to "do away with" the Police altogether! The US is literally tearing itself apart under Trump! If he gets 4 more, I fear the US will devolve into civil war, right down party lines. This is no joke, I seriously fear for my southern neighbours if the Divider in Chief gets another term!