OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
The cell phone video captured an OPP officer speaking freely and expressing his support for the protestors.
"I'm on board with you guys, but just no profanity," said Officer Stephenson.
With an apparent anti-Trudeau government protest outside on Thursday during an electric vehicle announcement by the Prime Minister at Honda manufacturing in Alliston, Ont., the officer can then be heard saying:
"There's 6,000 of us employed on the OPP. I'm pretty sure that not 6,000 voted for Trudeau," said Stephenson.
The interaction caught the attention of the OPP on Friday.
"The video has raised concerns about professionalism and depicts opinions that are not in line with the OPP's values," said OPP Sergeant Rob Simpson.
The officer appeared to comment on and agree with the man's criticisms of the criminal justice system. The OPP said it is reviewing the matter and taking it seriously.
"The OPP respects everyone's right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We also recognize the rights of the general public, local residents and elected officials to a safe environment," said Simpson.
While the prime minister didn't address the incident directly, he reinforced the public's right to peaceful protest.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
"In a democracy, your freedom to disagree with the government is something we perhaps take for granted here in Canada, but that they cannot take for granted in far too many places around the world," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Chris Lewis, a CTV Public Safety Analyst and Former OPP Commissioner said "I think it creates a perception in the public that police are politicized, and that shouldn't be the case."
Lewis said the officer appeared professional in his interaction with the protestor.
"Where I think he crossed the line is when he started talking about members of the OPP that maybe didn't vote for the Prime Minister, and that's not his role to get involved in that political end of things. Expressing his own support for them, etc., you need to stay neutral when you're in those roles," said Lewis.
The OPP told CTV News it would not be providing further information on the investigation or the officer's status, saying it remains committed to maintaining the public's trust and confidence in the communities it serves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
The dreams of a 60-year-old beauty contestant come to an abrupt end in Argentina
A 60-year-old woman saw her dreams of becoming the oldest Miss Universe contestant in history melt away in a haze of sequins and selfies Saturday at Argentina’s annual beauty pageant.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
At least 15 dead after severe weather carves path of ruin across multiple U.S. states in the South
Powerful storms killed at least 15 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
After more than 100 years, Newfoundland's unknown soldier returns home
An unknown Newfoundland soldier, who fought and died on the battlefields in northeastern France during the First World War, is back home this weekend for the first time in more than a hundred years.