The Calgary Police Association “reluctantly” ordered its members to remove thin blue lines from their street uniforms, while declaring victory in other areas of negotiations with the police commission, CBC News has learned.
The Calgary Police Commission initially told officers to remove the March 31 stickers. But the union, which has more than 2,000 members, withdrew, sending stickers and pins and issuing a directive to oppose the order.
CBC News obtained a copy of an email sent to employees by the association’s president, Johnny Orr, in which he revoked the union’s recommendation to wear the controversial symbol after several town hall meetings and after consulting with lawyers.
“We reluctantly recommend that you remove TBL [thin blue line] stickers and comply with [the commission’s] order “, wrote Or.
“Although we know that removing the patch is a difficult pill to swallow, we believe you have achieved several victories.”
Dress uniforms, employees in civilian clothes
These “victories” include the allowance to preserve the patches of uniforms, “to show the memory of those who fell on these occasions.” This is a recognition, says Orr, that the patch “is not a symbol of hatred.”
“We would be the first major police service in the country to do that, and in turn we will bring all police services across the country to follow suit.
The police association says that although they still “fiercely” disagree with the commission’s decision regarding the patch, the grace period for enforcing compliance is coming to an end.
“We strongly believe that if we continue to openly oppose the order, discipline will be forthcoming,” Orr said, explaining that discipline is likely to temporarily remove other “difficulties” and could affect patrols.
“Exposing the safety of the Calgary people, which none of us wants to do,” wrote the president of the association.
The symbol has ties to white nationalist movements
For many police officers, the Canadian flag sticker with a thin blue line across it is a way to honor officers who have died in the line of duty. This is especially touching in Calgary after the death of Sergeant Andrew Harnett in 2020.
But during the consultation process last year, the commission found that the patch caused deep, negative feelings in some members of the community, as it was linked to white nationalist movements and used in counter-protests against the Black Lives Matter movement.
But the commission’s March order was more than a patch. This brought the boiling point of tension between the commission and the police.
In a letter to members, Orr said the union “feels strong”, that political intervention by the commission “plays a role in the anti-police movement”.
“A few [commission] members regularly spewed anti-police rhetoric and misinformation on social media, “Orr told some members of the commission.
Concern for committee members who slander the police
Another gain in the negotiations from the point of view of the police association is the development of a social media policy and a code of conduct policy for commission members so that violators of the rules are held accountable “if someone slanders our members or the police profession in the future”
Meetings between the Calgary Police Service (CPS), the Police Association, the executive branch, the commission and the Association of Senior Officers were productive, according to Orr, with the commission “wanting to continue the dialogue to mend relations”.
count. Gian-Carlo Cara was one of the most vocal members of the anti-patch committee, calling it a “famous symbol of hatred” and suggesting that members who oppose the commission’s order have a “sense of justice”.
Orr said that during the consultation process over the past six weeks, it has become clear that the commission is “firm” in its direction to remove the symbol from everyday uniforms.
“This is out of the question from their point of view,” Orr said.
But he encouraged civilian workers to continue wearing the thin blue needle provided by the union.
Orr says the association will continue to work with the boss and the details committee – location and size – including wearing pins on uniforms.
The commission says it is “working on a statement”.
CBC News also requested comment from the CPS and the police union.
While the City of Calgary funds the CPS, the commission is the body responsible for overseeing the service.
The commission gives instructions to the service through the head, who is appointed by the commission and is responsible for daily activities.
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