Gondek wins order to remove thin blue line from officers’ uniforms

Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek’s city council has succeeded in making Calgary police stop wearing the thin blue line patch, becoming the first police service in Canada to do so.

As per internal emails sent to officers, Calgary Police Association president Johnny Orr wrote, “We reluctantly recommend you remove the [thin blue line] patches and comply with [the Calgary Police Commission’s] order.”

“While we know that removing the patch is a tough pill to swallow, we believe that [we] have achieved several ‘wins,'” he continued.

As for the wins, Orr says that officers will still be allowed to wear the patch on dress uniforms “to show remembrance for the fallen on those occasions, which Orr argues is a tacit admission that the patch is not a “hate symbol.”

“We would be the first major police service in the country to do so and, in turn, would lead the way for all police services across the country to follow suit,” Orr continues.

He further states that he believes defying the order to remove the thin blue line patch would lead to suspensions and other disciplinary actions.

As previously reported by The Counter Signal in March, Calgary Police Commission Chair Shawn Cornett said that the thin blue line is viewed as connected to racism and has to go.

“People in our community have clearly expressed that the thin blue line patch on police officers makes them uncomfortable due to its history and current use by groups opposing racial equity,” commission chair Shawn Cornett said in a statement in March.

“… Even when police officers wearing the patch are not meaning to support racist views, the connection to recent events and the visually divisive image of the symbol has an impact on people of colour and others who are not sure which of the many different meanings an officer is trying to express.”

Mayor Gondek had previously stated that she wanted the patch replaced with a new symbol, arguing the thin blue line, which left-wing protesters conflated with white nationalism, had been co-opted.

“I don’t think Calgarians disrespect the police service for the work that they do… However, when a symbol has been co-opted and gives a great deal of discomfort to certain stakeholder groups, we need to take it seriously,” Gondek said while speaking to Global News.

Calgary councillor Gian-Carlo Carra further warned that “citizens oversee the Calgary Police Service” and that City Council “will get to compliance one way or another.”

Share this story

Donate now to keep us on the front lines:

Help Keep your News Free

It's crucial we stay in touch

Big Tech wants to censor us, that’s why you need to stay in touch.

[wpp limit=6 order_by='views']

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THESE...

Trending News

Here are the top 10 reasons why Calgarians should consider someone other than Jyoti Gondek to run their city.

Keean Bexte

November 29, 2024

Trending News

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek gets lambasted on social media for beginning her Remembrance Day speech by stating that Canada is really only Indigenous peoples’ land.

Keean Bexte

November 12, 2024

Trending News

Although Edmonton struggles financially, over $1 million will be allocated to local communities applying for the city’s anti-racism grant program. 

Alexa Posa

September 9, 2024

Trending News

A new poll commissioned by The Counter Signal shows Calgarians’ voting intentions for the next mayoral election.

Mike Campbell

September 5, 2024

Trending News

The “Climate emergency” Mayor is allocating more tax dollars towards her personal security than the environment and social programs combined.

Keean Bexte

August 23, 2024

Want to join the conversation?

Sign up now to be able to like, comment and reply to other members. A full membership to our site includes:

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website.