'It's inflammatory': Vancouver police officer's patch ignites questions about objectivity
CTV
A Vancouver police officer is being scrutinized for donning a patch that does not adhere to the force’s uniform regulations.
A Vancouver police officer is being scrutinized for donning a patch that does not adhere to the force’s uniform regulations.
Former city council candidate Sean Orr shared an image of the officer’s patch on X, the platform previously called Twitter, and said it was captured Monday evening.
The black patch resembles the Israeli flag, except for a diagonal line through its centre. Orr said it raises concerns about police objectivity.
“There have been issues raised about impartiality around the Vancouver police, especially in the recent election," he said. “I brought up concerns around the Vancouver Police Union endorsing political candidates. It’s part of a concerning trend.”
In 2022, the police union endorsed then-candidate Ken Sim, citing in part his ABC Vancouver party's pledge to hire 100 more police officers as part of its public safety platform.
Rob Gordon, a criminology professor at Simon Fraser University, agrees with Orr, stating the officer’s patch is inappropriate and can have an impact on public perception.
“It’s not necessary,” he said. “It’s inflammatory and it needs to be dealt with properly by the police service involved.”
