A week after the Calgary Police Commission (CPC) demanded Calgary police ditch the “racist” Thin Blue Line patches, two officers say they — and many others in the service — will refuse the order..The Western Standard spoke with two active Calgary Police Services (CPS) officers on the condition of anonymity to prevent any negative reprisal from their superiors..The first officer — who has been with the CPS for less than 10 years — said he wanted to serve and protect in some capacity since he was a young boy..When asked what the Thin Blue Line symbol signified to him, he said, “It’s supposed to be a symbol to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.”.“There’s a common notion — us versus them. It’s not us versus them, like police versus citizens, it’s good versus evil,” said the officer who indicated he is Catholic..He said he “very much believes in good versus evil” and said it’s not police versus citizens, “because we’re citizens too, right.”.“It also represents the brotherhood within the police service,” he said..“Because of all the stuff we go through on the job at the end of the day, we will always have each other’s back. When the chips are down, I will come back you up. That’s what it means to me.”.Thoughts on the symbol being racist or somehow reflective of white-supremacist values?.“So, myself and some of my other colleagues that are of colour, think it’s ridiculous,” said the officer..“I’m a visible minority, and I 100% support and back the Thin Blue Line and when they say the symbol is racist, come on. Then why are the black cops that I work with, why are the Indian, and Arab cops I work with and myself, why would we all support it? I don’t know where they got that from.”.The officer said in all his time on the force, he has never heard the Thin Blue Line referenced as a racist symbol..“You can use anything as a symbol and someone else can twist it, but that doesn’t mean that’s what it is, right?” said the officer, adding, “I find it hard to believe.”.He said many of his fellow officers feel the same and are, like him, refusing to take the patch off. He said the Calgary Police Association has also been handing out the patches and pins encouraging officers to wear them while on patrol..“Even guys that weren’t wearing it before are going to wear it now,” he said..“The commission said we have to follow this directive and it’s an order being given under the law, but just because they are telling us to do this, doesn’t make it a law. Similar fashion to the COVID stuff.”.“We’re just tired of the overreach of the Calgary Police Commission.”.“It’s more leftist ideas, catering to liberalism and the commission says they are doing this because it’s what the citizens of Calgary want. I’m not even sure that’s the case. “.The officer said he was aware the majority of Calgarians polled did not see anything negative with the symbol and said he has never had any member of the public complain about the symbol to him. He said he feels insulted by the commission and feels it’s an attack on him and his fellow officers..“Morale is already at an all-time low, and it just feels like another blow, especially over the past two years with all this BLM stuff and the COVID narrative,” said the officer..“People in my profession don’t feel they’re getting a break; they’re just feeling attacked left and right and it’s not even the citizens, it’s the city officials and the governments.”.“Thin Blue Line stuff aside, you asked me if I was still proud of my profession? I don’t know, I used to be, but I’m not as proud anymore.”.He said he has contemplated quitting a number of times..“I still enjoy it and I like helping people and the job itself is still good, it’s just there’s too much politics. I don’t feel quite the same sense of pride as I once did.”.The officer said he recently tried to get a Thin Blue Line flag made through Flagworks, a Calgary company that makes flags among other promotional items..He said he was told they were not permitted to make the flags unless it was being ordered by official detachment personnel..“I even showed him my badge and said I work for the CPS, but he said he could only make it if it’s ordered by the CPS itself,” said the officer..The Western Standard spoke with Paul Janzen, a sales rep with Flagworks, who confirmed, to his knowledge, there are “some rules” and they are “required to get some form of approval” to make the flags..Although Flagworks indicated they were limited in the ability to make the flags, Phyllis Bright, owner of Flagshop Alberta out of Edmonton said she is unaware of any rules restricting making the flags with the controversial symbol but said her company would want to ensure they would only be used for the “purpose of respect.”.Another more seasoned officer also shared his thoughts on the Thin Blue Line patches..“Just because someone says something means something doesn’t make it so,” said the 20-plus-year veteran of the CPS..When asked what the symbol meant to him, he said, “The first thing that it’s always spoken to me is that it delineates the separation between good and evil..“And, it’s the Thin Blue Line, because when you think about it, Calgary’s just over 1.3 million people and we’re policed by under 2,000 so trust me, it’s a Thin Blue Line,” said the seasoned officer..“It’s also a memorial to our fallen. So those are the two big things that it symbolizes to me.”.He said the “vilification of the police” has happened at a “rather interesting time” with a change in the membership of the CPC..“With the very recent appointment of [Courtney] Walcott and [Gian-Carlo] Carra, Ward councillors who have long documented history of personal agendas, I mean the fact that they were appointed, so much for impartiality,” said the officer..He said his understanding of the role of the police commission is to be “a link between the community and the police service” and “an interface between the police service, elected officials, and other agencies.”.“The question I have is if this is supposed to be impartial and represent the community, so how can it do that when there are public officials on it?”.“It’s no longer civilian oversight if there are city council members on it. So, I think that’s a form of corruption and it’s been politicized.”.The officer acknowledged there has been a long history of city councillors sitting on the commission, but said this is the first time he is aware of councillors pushing their “personal agendas onto the police.”.“Because what ends up happening — and we’ve already seen this with the nonsense that’s gone on with the police response against the freedom rallies — is we’re seeing politicians using police as their personal enforcers,” said the officer, who added: “Police do not represent politicians, they represent the people.”.The officer said it’s been frustrating to have the public’s perception be that police officers are “hired thugs of politicians to enforce whatever mandate is in their best interest at the moment.”.“It’s kind of ironic because when you think about it, police attend these rallies and protests, and what people don’t understand is the reason we are there is to ensure public safety and to ensure those people protesting have the right to do so. That is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”.“All of a sudden, as of a couple of weeks ago, after a certain couple of commissioners get appointed, now they’re doing a court injunction, which is actually in breach of the Charter. So how that’s going forward is beyond me?”.“The right of peaceful protest and assembly is guaranteed, so what changed?”.The officer said he’s frustrated police have been put in “an ugly position” when the public should be looking to the politicians “who are pulling the strings behind it all.”.He indicated officers have been short-staffed for as long as he remembers and they are “worked raw.”.“It wasn’t like that years ago. And then all the negativity which is piled on us from both our own administration and from these special interest groups and now politicians with their special interests,” said the officer..“It’s very demoralizing being out there.”.The officer said he and many others felt a calling to serve and protect but, “Most of us don’t feel very appreciated these days.”.“The numbers of officers that have resigned, retired, or are on leave right now are greater than I’ve ever seen.”.When asked where he thinks the commission derived its notion the Thin Blue Line symbol has ties to white supremacy, the officer said it was a good question and one that he could not answer. The officer drew attention to other “thin lines.”.“So, fire (department) uses the Thin Red Line, there’s a green one for military personnel, a white one, I think, for nurses,” he said..“And all it is, is a symbol emblazoned over top of our national flag, because we are usually patriotic people. And it just kind of recognizes there is a small number of us looking after a very large number of people, and in some cases, keeping them safe from harm’s way. That’s all it is.”.The officer spoke of the commission’s reference of the symbol to colonial ties where a British infantry unit called the Thin Red Line was in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War in the mid-1800s..“So, where does the racism come in? They’re just trying to make excuses to justify their demonization,” said the officer..“The worst part is when our own organization and city councillors turn on us.”.“We’re in an unprecedented time with our current city council. I have never seen it so anti-police.”.“It’s ironic, they got this court injunction, used the police to enforce their questionably legal court injunction against freedom protesters and then the very next week turn on the police members.”.He said he and others on the force feel “manipulated and used.”.“Quite frankly, the police commission has enough to worry about without meddling around with a badge that’s been worn by police officers for decades,” he said..“I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but there are over 30 formal complaints filed against the chief and his executive with the Calgary Police Commission and the Calgary police internal affairs division. Those were filed back in October 2021 and nothing has been done with it.”.The officer said the basis for the complaints was criminal misconduct and other matters around the enforcement of vaccine mandates. .“The commission needs to be focusing on doing their job and the matter at hand at which they have neglected to do so.”.“The only action that has happened is within hours of the initial filing of these complaints is the former chairperson resigned. That’s the only action the police commission has taken in this matter.”.The officer said he still has some time to go before retirement and intends to do the “honourable work looking after people” he has always done and will leave when his time is over..“We know that the silent majority support us, and we support them,” he said..“It’s the vocal minority, and that’s the problem we have these days. There’s a handful of squeaky wheels and they want all the grease, and they are getting it.”.Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandard.news.This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
A week after the Calgary Police Commission (CPC) demanded Calgary police ditch the “racist” Thin Blue Line patches, two officers say they — and many others in the service — will refuse the order..The Western Standard spoke with two active Calgary Police Services (CPS) officers on the condition of anonymity to prevent any negative reprisal from their superiors..The first officer — who has been with the CPS for less than 10 years — said he wanted to serve and protect in some capacity since he was a young boy..When asked what the Thin Blue Line symbol signified to him, he said, “It’s supposed to be a symbol to remember our fallen brothers and sisters.”.“There’s a common notion — us versus them. It’s not us versus them, like police versus citizens, it’s good versus evil,” said the officer who indicated he is Catholic..He said he “very much believes in good versus evil” and said it’s not police versus citizens, “because we’re citizens too, right.”.“It also represents the brotherhood within the police service,” he said..“Because of all the stuff we go through on the job at the end of the day, we will always have each other’s back. When the chips are down, I will come back you up. That’s what it means to me.”.Thoughts on the symbol being racist or somehow reflective of white-supremacist values?.“So, myself and some of my other colleagues that are of colour, think it’s ridiculous,” said the officer..“I’m a visible minority, and I 100% support and back the Thin Blue Line and when they say the symbol is racist, come on. Then why are the black cops that I work with, why are the Indian, and Arab cops I work with and myself, why would we all support it? I don’t know where they got that from.”.The officer said in all his time on the force, he has never heard the Thin Blue Line referenced as a racist symbol..“You can use anything as a symbol and someone else can twist it, but that doesn’t mean that’s what it is, right?” said the officer, adding, “I find it hard to believe.”.He said many of his fellow officers feel the same and are, like him, refusing to take the patch off. He said the Calgary Police Association has also been handing out the patches and pins encouraging officers to wear them while on patrol..“Even guys that weren’t wearing it before are going to wear it now,” he said..“The commission said we have to follow this directive and it’s an order being given under the law, but just because they are telling us to do this, doesn’t make it a law. Similar fashion to the COVID stuff.”.“We’re just tired of the overreach of the Calgary Police Commission.”.“It’s more leftist ideas, catering to liberalism and the commission says they are doing this because it’s what the citizens of Calgary want. I’m not even sure that’s the case. “.The officer said he was aware the majority of Calgarians polled did not see anything negative with the symbol and said he has never had any member of the public complain about the symbol to him. He said he feels insulted by the commission and feels it’s an attack on him and his fellow officers..“Morale is already at an all-time low, and it just feels like another blow, especially over the past two years with all this BLM stuff and the COVID narrative,” said the officer..“People in my profession don’t feel they’re getting a break; they’re just feeling attacked left and right and it’s not even the citizens, it’s the city officials and the governments.”.“Thin Blue Line stuff aside, you asked me if I was still proud of my profession? I don’t know, I used to be, but I’m not as proud anymore.”.He said he has contemplated quitting a number of times..“I still enjoy it and I like helping people and the job itself is still good, it’s just there’s too much politics. I don’t feel quite the same sense of pride as I once did.”.The officer said he recently tried to get a Thin Blue Line flag made through Flagworks, a Calgary company that makes flags among other promotional items..He said he was told they were not permitted to make the flags unless it was being ordered by official detachment personnel..“I even showed him my badge and said I work for the CPS, but he said he could only make it if it’s ordered by the CPS itself,” said the officer..The Western Standard spoke with Paul Janzen, a sales rep with Flagworks, who confirmed, to his knowledge, there are “some rules” and they are “required to get some form of approval” to make the flags..Although Flagworks indicated they were limited in the ability to make the flags, Phyllis Bright, owner of Flagshop Alberta out of Edmonton said she is unaware of any rules restricting making the flags with the controversial symbol but said her company would want to ensure they would only be used for the “purpose of respect.”.Another more seasoned officer also shared his thoughts on the Thin Blue Line patches..“Just because someone says something means something doesn’t make it so,” said the 20-plus-year veteran of the CPS..When asked what the symbol meant to him, he said, “The first thing that it’s always spoken to me is that it delineates the separation between good and evil..“And, it’s the Thin Blue Line, because when you think about it, Calgary’s just over 1.3 million people and we’re policed by under 2,000 so trust me, it’s a Thin Blue Line,” said the seasoned officer..“It’s also a memorial to our fallen. So those are the two big things that it symbolizes to me.”.He said the “vilification of the police” has happened at a “rather interesting time” with a change in the membership of the CPC..“With the very recent appointment of [Courtney] Walcott and [Gian-Carlo] Carra, Ward councillors who have long documented history of personal agendas, I mean the fact that they were appointed, so much for impartiality,” said the officer..He said his understanding of the role of the police commission is to be “a link between the community and the police service” and “an interface between the police service, elected officials, and other agencies.”.“The question I have is if this is supposed to be impartial and represent the community, so how can it do that when there are public officials on it?”.“It’s no longer civilian oversight if there are city council members on it. So, I think that’s a form of corruption and it’s been politicized.”.The officer acknowledged there has been a long history of city councillors sitting on the commission, but said this is the first time he is aware of councillors pushing their “personal agendas onto the police.”.“Because what ends up happening — and we’ve already seen this with the nonsense that’s gone on with the police response against the freedom rallies — is we’re seeing politicians using police as their personal enforcers,” said the officer, who added: “Police do not represent politicians, they represent the people.”.The officer said it’s been frustrating to have the public’s perception be that police officers are “hired thugs of politicians to enforce whatever mandate is in their best interest at the moment.”.“It’s kind of ironic because when you think about it, police attend these rallies and protests, and what people don’t understand is the reason we are there is to ensure public safety and to ensure those people protesting have the right to do so. That is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”.“All of a sudden, as of a couple of weeks ago, after a certain couple of commissioners get appointed, now they’re doing a court injunction, which is actually in breach of the Charter. So how that’s going forward is beyond me?”.“The right of peaceful protest and assembly is guaranteed, so what changed?”.The officer said he’s frustrated police have been put in “an ugly position” when the public should be looking to the politicians “who are pulling the strings behind it all.”.He indicated officers have been short-staffed for as long as he remembers and they are “worked raw.”.“It wasn’t like that years ago. And then all the negativity which is piled on us from both our own administration and from these special interest groups and now politicians with their special interests,” said the officer..“It’s very demoralizing being out there.”.The officer said he and many others felt a calling to serve and protect but, “Most of us don’t feel very appreciated these days.”.“The numbers of officers that have resigned, retired, or are on leave right now are greater than I’ve ever seen.”.When asked where he thinks the commission derived its notion the Thin Blue Line symbol has ties to white supremacy, the officer said it was a good question and one that he could not answer. The officer drew attention to other “thin lines.”.“So, fire (department) uses the Thin Red Line, there’s a green one for military personnel, a white one, I think, for nurses,” he said..“And all it is, is a symbol emblazoned over top of our national flag, because we are usually patriotic people. And it just kind of recognizes there is a small number of us looking after a very large number of people, and in some cases, keeping them safe from harm’s way. That’s all it is.”.The officer spoke of the commission’s reference of the symbol to colonial ties where a British infantry unit called the Thin Red Line was in the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War in the mid-1800s..“So, where does the racism come in? They’re just trying to make excuses to justify their demonization,” said the officer..“The worst part is when our own organization and city councillors turn on us.”.“We’re in an unprecedented time with our current city council. I have never seen it so anti-police.”.“It’s ironic, they got this court injunction, used the police to enforce their questionably legal court injunction against freedom protesters and then the very next week turn on the police members.”.He said he and others on the force feel “manipulated and used.”.“Quite frankly, the police commission has enough to worry about without meddling around with a badge that’s been worn by police officers for decades,” he said..“I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but there are over 30 formal complaints filed against the chief and his executive with the Calgary Police Commission and the Calgary police internal affairs division. Those were filed back in October 2021 and nothing has been done with it.”.The officer said the basis for the complaints was criminal misconduct and other matters around the enforcement of vaccine mandates. .“The commission needs to be focusing on doing their job and the matter at hand at which they have neglected to do so.”.“The only action that has happened is within hours of the initial filing of these complaints is the former chairperson resigned. That’s the only action the police commission has taken in this matter.”.The officer said he still has some time to go before retirement and intends to do the “honourable work looking after people” he has always done and will leave when his time is over..“We know that the silent majority support us, and we support them,” he said..“It’s the vocal minority, and that’s the problem we have these days. There’s a handful of squeaky wheels and they want all the grease, and they are getting it.”.Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandard.news.This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
