Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said she was “very uncomfortable” Thursday with the wearing by some police officers of a controversial symbol showing a flag of Canada crossed by a thin blue line, the images of which circulated widely on the networks. social in the last days.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has been investigating this sign for several months now, which divides experts and citizens. The debate surrounding it, however, has resurfaced in the last few days after a citizen posted photos taken online during a demonstration against health measures last Saturday, on which several police officers can be seen wearing the said symbol on their uniform.
“I am very uncomfortable with some police officers who choose to wear this symbol because[il] divides Montrealers and is very busy,” said Ms. Plante Thursday afternoon, on the sidelines of a press conference at City Hall. She then recalled the importance of SPVM officers’ uniforms being “inclusive”.
“We must ensure that the uniform reassures the whole population and not divides it,” she added.
Currently, positions vary greatly. Some police officers and experts see it as a symbol of solidarity between members of a profession, while others associate it with extremist movements.
“This symbol is unacceptable,” said Thursday afternoon the spokesperson for public security for the opposition party Ensemble Montreal, Abdelhaq Sari, in an interview at the Homework. The elected opposition then deplored “the lack of leadership” of the mayor, who according to him should have condemned the wearing by the police much earlier.
“There have been inquiries about it for several months and she says today that she is uncomfortable about it,” he lamented.
Analysis in progress
Several police forces, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Saint-Jean police force, in New Brunswick, have already banned the use of this flag by their officers.
“A complete review process of the dress and deportment procedure, which governs the standards applicable to the physical appearance and dress of employees, is currently underway at the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal. This exercise includes the possible positioning of the Service with regard to the wearing of any insignia, a question on which our ethics committee is looking, ”assured Thursday at the Homework the SPVM.
Without advancing on a date as to the deadline for this review process, the police force indicated by email that “the steps are continuing and progressing”. “The SPVM wants to make sure it makes a thoughtful, ethical and objective decision that will benefit the entire police community,” added a spokesperson.
As to whether the police officers who have been seen with the controversial symbol could be sanctioned, the SPVM recalls that altering a uniform “is not allowed”. “That being said, the committee must first decide whether wearing a badge constitutes an alteration or not,” it adds.
“We have to make sure that the uniform reassures the whole population and not divides it. »