Calgary police suspends officer who made anti-vaccine mandate video while in uniform
A Calgary police officer is currently relieved from duty with pay for failing to adhere to the service's COVID-19 vaccination policy — and officials are looking into his role in posting a video on social media while in uniform, opposing the mandate and drawing comparison with the Holocaust and Hitler's regime.
In the video shared on social media, the member is identified as Brian Denison and B. Denison can be seen on his police uniform shirt.
He says the vaccine mandate imposed on CPS officers is "very reminiscent of many years ago during the world war that Hitler was perpetrating against the Jews, he slowly but surely took away the rights, the privileges, all that stuff that people find worthwhile in life."
He says he recorded the video on Sep. 29 but encouraged other officers in a "call to action" to follow him in choosing to remain unvaccinated, regardless of the Dec. 1 deadline imposed by the city.
"Those that are vaccinated, a lot of them look down on us that are unvaccinated and that's starting the two-tier system," he said.
CTV News has reached out Denison for comment, including on his Telegram account, which he encouraged others to do in his video, and is waiting for a response.
In a statement to CTV News the Calgary Police Service says the matter has been referred to its Professional Standards Section for investigation.
As well, the service "is pursuing relief from duty without pay under the provisions of Alberta's Police Act."
"We respect our employees’ decision on whether to get vaccinated," it read.
"We value inclusivity and collaboration in our workplace and in doing so, we offer the rapid testing program for our employees who are unvaccinated, for a variety of reasons."
Police Chief Mark Neufeld was not available for comment.
The Calgary Police Commission issued a statement Friday afternoon.
"COVID-19 has cost our community so much. Far too many people have lost loved ones or had their lives forever changed because of this virus. The Calgary Police Commission urges all members of the Calgary Police Service to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues and their community," it read.
"We also expect employees of the service to follow the policies, laws and regulations that govern their workplace, and for there to be accountability when this does not occur. Without this accountability, the public’s trust in the police is undermined. We are closely monitoring how this accountability is occurring in relation to the vaccination policy."
Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who also sits on the Calgary Police Commission, says he finds the video extremely problematic, especially the references to Hitler.
"That is just fundamentally a racist, ridiculous, ignorant thing to say," he said. "It's a free country, but if you are taking a public salary to be at the forefront of public safety as a public servant and you want to espouse those views, there's a serious problem. That's a conversation that we need to have as a commission, with our police chief and our police service."
Carra says he is disappointed police leadership has not come out stronger against dissent within the service.
"The tone from the top is missing for me right now, with regard to our police service," he said.
A University of Alberta law professor says what is often overlooked in instances like this is the claim that vaccine mandates are illegal or go against human rights.
"When it's not at all," said Timothy Caulfield, Canada research chair for health, law and policy. "We have we already have decisions from the United States, and we have jurisprudence from Canada that tells us that (mandates are) the kind of thing that governments can (use) in order to protect their citizens.
"He misrepresents the science, he misrepresents the relevant law and he misrepresents history. And he does it all in a package that tries to portray himself in a kind of a self righteous and noble manner, as if his anti-vax position is brave. And he's doing it on the behalf of Canadians, when in fact, the opposite is true."
At this week’s police commission meeting, CPS reported 92 per cent are fully vaccinated, one per cent are partially vaccinated.
All unvaccinated employees have opted for the rapid testing program.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's 'most wanted terrorist' arrested on gun charges in Canada
One of India's most wanted terrorists has been arrested and charged in connection with a recent alleged shooting in Ontario.
12-year-old boy charged in stabbing of 11-year-old boy at Edmonton McDonald's
The boy stabbed at a north Edmonton McDonald's last Friday is 11 years old.
What makes walking so great for your health and what else you need to do
Medical experts agree that walking is an easy way to improve physical and mental health, bolster fitness and prevent disease. While it’s not the only sort of exercise people should do, it’s a great first step toward a healthy life.
U.S. Congress hosts second round of UFO hearings
The U.S. government held another UFO hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the second such hearing in 16 months. This hearing was billed as an attempt by congress to provide a better understanding of what is known about previous sightings of UFOs, also known as UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
Toronto teenager charged with first-degree murder in Kitchener, Ont. homicide
A Toronto teen has been charged as part of an investigation into Kitchener, Ont.’s first homicide of 2024.
Spy service officer denies threatening Montreal man who was later imprisoned in Sudan
A Canadian Security Intelligence Service official has denied threatening a Montreal man who was later imprisoned and allegedly tortured by authorities in Sudan.
Donald Trump picks Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz to serve as attorney general
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will nominate Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida to serve as his attorney general, putting a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.
This Canadian airline will adopt Apple's new AirTag feature to help recover lost baggage. Here's how
Apple announced that a new feature, 'Share Item Location,' will help users locate and recover misplaced items by sharing an AirTag location with third parties including airlines.
Canada bracing for 'tough' talks as Trump's pick calls northern border an 'extreme vulnerability'
The Canadian government is aware it's likely in for 'tough conversations' with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's administration, after his border czar said there is 'an extreme national security vulnerability' he intends to tackle at the Canada-U.S. border.