whats the difference, if any, between a POLICE OFFICER and a PEACE OFFICER?

The first time I ever heard someone say Peace Officer, I thought they had a speech impediment and were trying to say Police Officer. Everyone knows what a police officer is, but what in the world is a peace officer?

Same thing.

They protect and serve.....................

It's nothing more than one of the many PC Job titles.

Kind of like a janitor is now Building Maintence Specialist, a trashman is now a Refuse Collector, a handyman is a Facility Engineer or a dog catcher is a Animal Control Officer.

Modern legal codes use the term peace officer (or in some jurisdictions, law enforcement officer) to include every person vested by the legislating state with law-enforcement authority—traditionally, anyone "sworn, badged, and armable" but, basically, who can arrest, or refer such arrest for a criminal prosecution. Hence, city police officers, county sheriffs' deputies, and state troopers are usually vested with the same authority within a given jurisdiction.

From wikipedia