“I do solemnly swear to faithfully perform the duties of such office and to enforce the laws of the state of Missouri and other applicable jurisdictions, and to uphold the constitution of the state of Missouri and the United States of America, so help me God.”
With the oath taken, Dwayne Rice became the newest member of the University Police Department during a swearing-in ceremony held Wednesday, Jan. 9, in Hearnes Hall.
A career in law enforcement was something that interested him after he got out of the military, Rice said.
As an officer with the Springfield Police Department, he could be seen in an episode of A&E Network’s “Live PD” – which follows officers from departments throughout the United States.
“I was assisting Greene County (Sheriff’s Office),” said Rice. “There was an incident where they had pulled over another vehicle. There was meth and weed in the vehicle. We got a call over the radio that the driver was going to be taken out of the vehicle. I was maintaining the driver while the deputy was conducting the search.”
Rice became the second veteran of the Springfield Police Department to join Missouri Southern in recent weeks, said Ken Kennedy, chief of the University Police Department.
Officer Stephen Sloniker also joined the department during a ceremony held last month.