'There will be reckoning': Calgary officers warned about defying 'thin blue line' orders
There has been mixed reaction following the Calgary Police Commission’s order for on-duty police officers to stop wearing the 'thin blue line' patches.
"My initial reaction when I heard the patch was no longer going to be worn by CPS officers is it took a while, but I'm glad that it's happening," said Adam Massiah, with the United Black People's Allyship. "My second reaction was a little bit of disappointment when I found out that direction had to come down from the (Commission), and wasn't at the goodwill of the (Calgary Police Service) and the executive leadership there by themselves, considering their commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization."
The Commission stated that the decision to prohibit the symbol was made for several reasons, including its contentious history in ‘division, colonialism and racism’, and are acknowledging that some wear the patch to ‘honour the fallen’.
"What we are asking here is that our police service not wear a known hate symbol whose origins are buried in hateful thoughts and hateful deeds, when they serve the public," said Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra, who is on the Commission. "If we have members of the service who think that whatever sense of entitlement they have trumps that, there will be a reckoning."
Calgary Police Association president John Orr said a "substantial" number of officers currently wear one, and it’s unclear what the repercussions will be if they continue to do so past Friday.
"The (CPA) will encourage our members to continue to wear the patch," Orr said.
According to Carra, any disciplinary decisions will come down to Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld.
"Well, the senior officer has to obey the Commission, and the rank and file has to obey the (senior officer)," he said.
"Citizens oversee the Calgary Police Service and that citizen oversight has made a determination and we will we will get to compliance one way or another."
Calgary councillor Gian-Carlo Carra
"If I saw an officer with that badge on, the thin blue line, I would automatically assume that this person has ill intentions when interacting with me," said Massiah. "That’s not the way that it's supposed to be from a standpoint of a public servant who's there to serve and protect."
LARGER DISCONNECT
Some experts say the disagreement between these two organizations speaks to a larger disconnect.
"There’s lots of ramifications with respect to this," said Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist and professor at Mount Royal University. "Aside from labour issues, (there’s) a challenge with regards to tension between the membership, and their leadership, with the police leadership."
The Calgary Police Commission is made up of 10 members from the community and two city councillors, providing oversight for CPS.
Alberta's Police Act requires the police chief to report directly to the commission and that the commission to give direction to the service through the chief.
A Calgary police spokesperson provided the following statement late Thursday afternoon.
"The Calgary Police Service Leadership team are currently assessing all options in relation to gaining voluntary compliance with the order from the Calgary Police Commission not to wear the thin blue line patch. We will be taking a measured and balanced approach to this and will continually reassess as we navigate this deeply personal issue for our members."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Fort McMurray evacuees welcomed home Saturday as crews make progress on wildfire
Residents of Fort of McMurray who were displaced over wildfire concerns were told to return home Saturday.
Member of Israel's War Cabinet says he'll quit June 8 unless there's new war plan
Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israel’s three-member War Cabinet, threatened on Saturday to resign from the government if it doesn't adopt a new plan in three weeks' time for the war in Gaza.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Scottie Scheffler, from the course to jail and back: What to know about his PGA Championship arrest
Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler was arrested after police say he dragged an officer while trying to get around the scene of a fatal accident Friday ahead of the second round of the PGA Championship.