The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has unveiled a new badge that will replace a symbol that police officers wore on their uniforms to honor their deceased colleagues, but which is now associated with the far right.
The head of the SPVM, Fady Dagher, declared Wednesday that the controversial symbol of the thin blue line (“ thin blue line » in English), representing a black and white Canadian flag divided by a blue horizontal band, is worn by approximately 10 to 15% of Montreal police officers.
Some who wear it say it is in solidarity with police officers who have died in the line of duty, but the symbol has become associated with Blue Lives Matter – a term used by some police supporters in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. It has also been criticized as a symbol of white supremacy.
Mr Dagher says this change was necessary to build trust and demonstrate neutrality. The new circular crest contains the words “fallen but never forgotten” written in French around the police coat of arms. The new crest still has a blue line, but it forms a circle rather than a dividing line.
“It’s an important symbol. In 2023, 12 Canadian police officers died. It’s a record, recalled Mr. Dagher in an interview with The Canadian Press. It is entirely commendable and honorable to have on their uniform a sign of commemoration of their colleagues. But the sign was contaminated from 2015 with far-right groups facing the Black Lives Matter group and this created immense tensions.
“From the moment a symbol worn on a uniform is not impartial and creates tensions, as a police service, we are there to serve all populations, so we cannot have a sign on us that can create tensions. tensions. »
Sociologist Frédéric Boisrond, external consultant to the SPVM on issues of public perception and racial discrimination, said it was “totally unacceptable” and “very insulting” that some police officers still choose to wear a symbol associated with hatred. .
The SPVM will grant officers a transition period to make the change, but Mr. Dagher specifies that no strict deadline will be imposed and that police officers who do not wear it will not be penalized. The whole process could take more than a year. He will consider it a “huge success” if the majority of officers are sporting the new badge by next year.
Max Stanley Bazin, president of La Ligue des Noirs du Québec, welcomed the decision, but stressed that there should be no transition period and that the controversial badges should be removed immediately. He says a person in a position of authority representing the state should never be allowed to wear a symbol like that.