Scruples

You mean with the club, Paul?  lol

hi Ruth, Peter, Paul, and Mary...sorry, Andy,

I have forgotten the question, but you guys go off at such a tangent that it doesn't matter anyway.

Have a good day ya'all

Ray.

hi Diana,

I am onto the original question now. the answer is; every police officer is a servant of the law firstly and foremostly, this means any officer of whatever rank. Each officer has the responsibility for his own actions and cannot be ordered to do an unlawful act, as breaking up a peaceful demonstration with excessive force would be. The same applies to police who carry guns. No one can order you to use the firearm, it has to be your decision and you are the one called to account if it turns out to be the wrong decision when argued about in court, sometimes years later.

So, the answer is, no, you would not obey if you considered it was an 'unlawful' order. 

We had a peaceful Countryside demonstration here a few years ago and some of the police were coshing people left, right and center.