CPS allows officers to wear 'thin blue line' pins, which convey different message

Both the Calgary Police Service and Calgary Police Commission say pins, which possess a thin blue line on them, are a commemorative icon for front-line policing and have no other hidden meaning. (Supplied)

Calgary police officials say pins, which are similar to a controversial patch that has racial undertones, will remain on uniforms because they have a different meaning to the service.

Last year, the Calgary Police Service ordered its officers to remove "thin blue line" patches from their uniforms because of the connection between the icons and certain dark aspects of law enforcement's history.

Officers and family members said the patch was "to honour the fallen," but the Calgary Police Commission (CPC) decided the patches are tied too closely to "division, colonialism and racism" to be worn.

However, a "thin blue line" pin, which is dissimilar from the patch because it does not possess a greyed out Canadian flag with a blue line through it - an unauthorized image, the CPC says - can be worn.

The commission says the pin is an approved part of the CPS uniform and its previous decision regarding the patch did not revoke the pin's approval.

"We decided not to revoke approval at this time for any parts of the uniform that were previously approved and issued to officers by the Service, as many of the pins issued by the Service are given as a recognition of an officer's contributions," the CPS said in a statement.

Photos of an officer wearing one of the pins were shared on social media earlier this week, sparking debate over the items.

In a statement to CTV News, the CPS says the pins were approved in 2016 and denotes length of service in front-line policing.

Officials say the pins possess a different design than the controversial patches as well.

"The approved patrol pin does include a thin blue line, but in a design that predates and differs from the 'thin blue line' patch that became a point of contention for community members who had seen that particular patch co-opted by hate organizations in both the U.S. and Canada," officials said in a statement.

It confirmed that all unauthorized insignias, including the "thin blue line" patch, were ordered to be removed by May 31, 2022.

As of this week, CPS says the patch is no longer worn by any of its officers.