Before President-elect Barack Obama places one hand on the Bible and raises the other, Salem Patrolman Robert Cunningham will take a different oath.

He and six other North Shore police officers will be temporarily sworn in as deputy U.S. marshals after they fly down to Washington, D.C., to provide added security for the presidential inauguration.

"I've been here 20 years," Cunningham said. "I never dreamed I'd have this opportunity."

Some 83 police officers from 23 Massachusetts communities are headed to the nation's capital to work the inauguration, part of a regional response team set up by the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council.

On the North Shore, four officers from Salem and three from Peabody are making the trip. They'll head down Sunday and return Wednesday and will have the initial responsibility of lining the inaugural parade route and performing security clearances, said Andover Lt. William MacKenzie, the NEMLEC commander.

They may have more duties after they arrive.

When NEMLEC officers worked the 2004 inauguration of President Bush, they also provided security details for some of the nighttime inaugural balls, for example.

"We're a crowd control unit," MacKenzie said. "If they ask us to do that, we'll be ready."

"I think it's a great opportunity for these individuals to participate in such a historic event," said Salem police Chief Robert St. Pierre.

The officers will work at least eight hours a day and a minimum of 12 hours on the day of Obama's inauguration.

During his career, Cunningham has been part of the NEMLEC team providing security for the Red Sox and Patriots championship parades in downtown Boston.

"Some of these guys could go through a lifetime without some of the experiences we've been through," Cunningham said. "We pick up bits and pieces of information and how guys do certain things and bring it back to our jobs."

Though perhaps nothing can rival this week's inauguration, which is expected to draw a crowd of well over 1 million people.

"It's history in the making," Cunningham said. "We don't know what to expect. We just have to be ready for whatever happens."

Joining Cunningham will be Salem Patrolmen Mike Dunn, Kevin St. Pierre and Robert Lubas. In Peabody, Sgt. Bill Cook and officers Jim Thibodeau and Mark Saia are going.

"These are opportunities to serve in places that you'll probably never see again, unless you do the Olympics or some gigantic parade," said Peabody police Chief Robert Champagne. "These are major world events that you don't often get a chance to participate in."

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department is covering all the costs, including pay, travel and accommodations.

Though they'll be working through most of it, the officers will have at least one thing in common with the million-plus visitors — the experience of standing in the nation's capital during the swearing-in of a new commander-in-chief.

"They'll be able to tell tales of how they stood guard for the first black president of the United States," Champagne said. "I think it's quite an honor."

Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salem news.com.