Calgary police officers defy order to remove thin blue line patches from uniforms

Last week, the Calgary Police Commission announced its decision to no longer allow officers to wear the thin blue line patch on their uniforms while on duty.

Days after an order from the police service’s citizen oversight board, some Calgary Police officers continue to wear the thin blue line patch on their uniforms.

Last week, the Calgary Police Commission announced its decision to no longer allow officers to wear the patch on their uniforms while on duty.

The commission said it came to the decision after a year of deliberations and consultations, and said the patch “has a contentious history with roots in division, colonialism and racism.”

Adam Massiah, with the United Black Peoples Allyship, was present for the consultations with diversity groups and the anti-racism action committee.

“We made it very clear that to racialized communities, Black and Indigenous Calgarians, this symbol is directly offensive and is in exact contradiction to the idea Black people’s’ lives have value,” Massiah said. “I understand they see it as a symbol to commemorate their fallen officers.”

It is in that spirit that many officers are defying the order, after the Calgary Police Association distributed “countless” thin blue line patches to police officers and civilian service members in response.

The Calgary Police Association did not respond to Global News’ request for comment on Monday.

Last week, association president John Orr said they don’t believe the symbol is divisive and accused some members of the commission of being anti-police.