The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has asked its police officers to remove “any crest symbolizing or referring to Saint-Michel” from their uniform, learned Wednesday The duty. Insignia bearing the image of the patron saint of police officers were seen on the uniforms of at least three SPVM officers last Wednesday, during a demonstration against COP15. Bill 21, however, prohibits the wearing of religious symbols while performing police duties.
The situation was denounced Friday on Twitter by the Convergence of Anti-Capitalist Struggles of Montreal (CLAC), which has organized three demonstrations since the start of the UN Conference on Biodiversity.
According to the Police Act, a police officer cannot “alter” his uniform, but exceptions can be made under the authorization of “the director of the police force”.
Contacted by The dutythe SPVM informed Wednesday that “it has been requested that any crest symbolizing or referring to Saint-Michel be removed from the uniform in order to comply with the requirements of the Act”, citing article 6 which defines what is a “religious sign” by emphasizing that the crest of Saint-Michel can “reasonably be considered as referring to a religious affiliation”.
The SPVM adds that “a reminder was sent to police personnel concerning the Act respecting the secularism of the State and the prohibition on the wearing of religious symbols by State representatives”.
Requested by The dutythe Montreal Police Brotherhood said it was “in agreement with [le] content” of the SPVM directive.
A religious figure, the Archangel Saint-Michel is the patron saint of the police. Wearing a crest in his likeness therefore derogates from the Law on the secularism of the State, which prohibits the wearing of religious symbols by the police when they are in the exercise of their functions.
Montreal police officers have long celebrated the feast of the Archangel Saint-Michel, on September 29, alongside members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Provincial Police (ancestor of the Sûreté du Québec) and citizens. “However, the secularization of Quebec society meant that this holiday ceased to be celebrated around the mid-1960s,” is written on a page of the City’s website, which recalls this event.
Ongoing reform
Last February, the SPVM caused a stir when several of its police officers were seen wearing the thin blue line (thin blue line). Often represented by a flag of Canada crossed by a thin blue line, the symbol has a controversial meaning. Some police officers and some experts see it as a symbol of solidarity between members of a profession, while others associate it with extremist movements.
The mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante, said she was “very uncomfortable” with wearing the crest. Several police forces, including the RCMP and Bromont, have already banned the use of this flag by their officers.
The SPVM had indicated in February that it was revising its “dress and maintenance procedure, which governs the standards applicable to the physical appearance and dress of employees” and that it would be revealed to employees “in the coming months”.
Nearly ten months later, the SPVM informed by e-mail that “the work of the ethics committee, which is looking in particular at the complete review of the procedure for keeping and maintaining, is continuing. Management will issue a position in this regard once the committee has completed its work and presented its recommendations. »