Sir Robert Peels-Principals of Law Enforcement 1829
We have been receiving many questions regarding the oath that police officers take. Inside the front cover of every officer’s memo book is a reminder of our oath. While the exact text may differ between jurisdictions and services, above all we have pledged to uphold the Constitution of Canada and that includes our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
For those officers who are silent while we are ordered to enact questionable policies, mandates, and by-laws, we hope you will #RememberYourOath and join us by adding your support.
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If you are an active or retired peace officer or in a related field and would like to pledge your support, please be sure to message us with your information and a photo. We will do our best to get in contact with you as soon as possible.
Your Right to Peacefully Protest
To all of the courageous people who will be participating in protests, today and in future, share this information with your fellow activists.
Stay peaceful, stay safe.
Will History Repeat Itself? Remember when Toronto Police acknowledged Mass Arrests at G20 were unacceptable?
A mere 10 years ago, the actions of the police at the G20 Summit in Toronto resulted in Superintendent Fenton being found guilty of misconduct. Many other officers were also convicted of offences under the Police Services Act.
How quickly we seem to have forgotten that unlawful actions by police officers can result in findings of guilt.
Yesterday’s arrests across downtown Toronto were not based on any lawful authority. For several weeks now we have been pointing out the fact the legislation upon which the Public Health orders are based does not supersede any Charter Right (EMCPA 7.0.2). Citizens still have the right to protest without intervention from the state.
While the new Stay-At-Home order, filed under the EMCPA, speaks to enforcement at large gatherings, it does not include protests. Peaceful protests are a guaranteed right in Canada. If the Province wants to infringe on that right they must invoke Section 33 of the Charter and acknowledge the restrictions they are placing on our fundamental freedoms. Instead, our government would rather keep law enforcement liable to the inevitable future court rulings.
Why omit the word “Protest” from the legislation? Because our government would rather direct police services to interpret the term “Large Gatherings” to include anything, including our protected right to protest.
Look at the wording in the most recent Toronto Police Press Releases. Why won’t they refer to these “large gatherings” as protests? Because they know Canadians have a Charter Right to protest.
Protesters were arrested for Common Nuisance. Refer to Canadian Criminal Code Section 180(1). Pay special attention to the definition of Common Nuisance Section 180(2)(b).
If we contrast the actions of police command and police officers from across Canada with the actions at G20, it is clear they are putting themselves in positions that could result in civil liability, Police Services Act charges, and criminal charges.
#RememberYourOath
https://www.thestar.com/…/we-regret-that-mistakes-were…
https://globalnews.ca/…/ruling-expected-for-toronto…/
Police crash 18th Birthday Party and Issue $1,300 fine, over 10-person gathering
Celebrating your 18th birthday with close friends is something most of us did to commemorate our coming of age in Canada. An 18 year old young man from Manitoba had a socially distanced indoor birthday party to celebrate his adulthood with a handful of his friends which was against the current provincial public health orders in that province. Police were allegedly called by an anonymous tipster and fined this young man almost $1,300 for celebrating inside his father’s private workshop.
Day after day and story after story, there are new examples of police across Canada being put in the difficult position of balancing the provincial public health mandates and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. No police officer from across this great country can feel good about issuing a $1,300 ticket to a young man simply celebrating his 18th birthday with some good friends.
Does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which applies to all Federal and Provincial laws, and Municipal By-Laws, stand in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic?
It is safe to say that Canadians are in uncharted territory, and that includes our police.
#RememberYourOath
https://www.rebelnews.com/cops_crash_teens_18th_birthday…