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
BREAKING B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a "major assault."
DEVELOPING Defence rests without Donald Trump taking the witness stand in his New York hush money trial
Donald Trump's lawyers rested their defence Tuesday without the former president taking the witness stand in his New York hush money trial.
Passenger killed, 30 injured as Singapore Airlines flight hits severe turbulence
One passenger was killed and 30 injured after a Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI flight from London hit severe turbulence en route on Tuesday, forcing it to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, officials and the airline said.
Feels like mid-30s in parts of Canada, while other areas expecting snow
Anything is possible this week, as far as Canada's weather is concerned, with forecasts ranging from scorching heat in some parts of the country to rain and snow in others.
Canada's inflation cools to 3-year low of 2.7%, in boost for rate cut bets
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to a three-year low of 2.7 per cent in April, matching expectations, and core measures continued to ease, data showed on Tuesday, likely boosting chances of a June interest rate cut.
'Documents are fraudulent': Graceland is not for sale, Elvis Presley's granddaughter says in lawsuit
Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, is fighting plans to publicly auction his Graceland estate in Memphis after a company tried to sell the property based on claims that a loan using the king of rock ’n’ roll's former home as collateral was not repaid.
Trump campaign calls 'The Apprentice' 'blatantly false,' director offers to screen it for him
Donald Trump's reelection campaign called 'The Apprentice,' a film about the former U.S. president in the 1980s, 'pure fiction' and vowed legal action following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. But director Ali Abbasi is offering to privately screen the film for Trump.
Nestle to sell $5 pizza, sandwiches in the U.S. for Wegovy, Ozempic users
Nestle NESN.S will market a new, US$5 line of frozen pizzas and protein-enriched pastas in the United States which it says it designed specifically for people taking drugs such as Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.