John Rutherford: “I deeply appreciate Mrs. Cammack having read all of those names. That is a promise that we make to these officers. I…”

“I deeply appreciate Mrs. Cammack having read all of those names. That is a promise that we make to these officers. I really congratulate Congresswoman Cammack and thank her so much for this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, this morning, as I was laying a wreath at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, I couldn't help but remember that this week, National Police Week, is really about promises made and promises kept. These 22,000-plus officers, whose names appear at the national memorial, although they all died in different ways, they all lived for the same purpose. They made this promise: ``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 men to liberty, equality, and justice.'' Mr. Speaker, that is the first paragraph of the Law Enforcement Officer's Code of Ethics. That is a promise made by every law enforcement officer in the United States. That promise is kept every day when they put on that uniform and they go out to protect the peaceful against violence and disorder. Last year, in 2020, 394 of those officers gave their last full measure of devotion to the communities they served after having taken that oath. They kept their promise.…”