I am continuing my series of articles about Sir Robert Peel's 9 Principles of Policing.  Today, my focus is on Principle #8. Principle #8 To recognise always the need for strict adherence to police-executive functions, and to refrain from even seeming to usurp the powers of the judiciary of avenging individuals or the State, and of authoritatively judging guilt and punishing the guilty. The police serve a specific role in the criminal justice system as part of the executive branch.  The legislative branch makes the law, the judicial branch interprets the law, and the executive branch (law enforcement) enforces it. Each branch operates independently, although all three are intertwined. The separation of roles in the criminal justice system is designed to ensure fair treatment of people in each stage. Police officers are responsible for arresting individuals who break the law and have the legal authority to take another person’s life under certain conditions. Offices should not take that responsibility lightly. Even so, the police should never act as judge, jury, and executioner.  To the extent possible, police officers should do everything within their power to preserve life.  Deadly force should only be used if there are no other options. The…