45-3-7. Oaths of sheriffs, deputies, and peace officers.

(a) Before proceeding to act, all deputies shall take the same oaths as their principals take and the oaths shall be filed and entered on the minutes of the same office with the same endorsement thereon; but this Code section shall not apply to any deputy who may be employed in particular cases only. A deputy sheriff may take his or her oaths before the sheriff and the oaths may be filed in and entered in the records of the sheriff’s office. (b) All peace officers, as such term is defined in Code Section 35-8-2, taking their oath of office on or after July 1, 2025, shall be administered the following oath: “I, (name of person taking oath), hereby swear or affirm that I will faithfully, fairly, and without malice or partiality uphold the laws of the State of Georgia, as well as any ordinances which I am authorized to enforce, to the best of my ability and support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia. So help me God.” (c) A peace officer may take his or her oath before the chief executive officer of the agency or any authorized judicial official, and such oath may be filed in and entered in the records of that agency. (d) An agency may administer additional oaths that contain provisions not specifically prescribed and enumerated in this Code section; provided, however, that such oaths, and any language in addition to the language set forth in this Code section, shall be deemed aspirational only and of no legal effect in any civil or criminal proceeding. (e) Sheriffs and their sworn deputies taking their oath of office on or after July 1, 2025, shall take the oath set forth in Code Section 15-16-4; provided, however, that any language in such oath in addition to the language set forth in such Code section shall be deemed aspirational only and of no legal effect in any civil or criminal proceeding.