Ottawa Police Service (OPS) is seeking support for staffing more than 800 RCMP officers in preparation for the arrival of the Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Convoy, which is due to arrive in the city this weekend.
The request to reappoint 631 RCMP officers and a further 200 Special meeting April 27th OPS Board of Directors
The reappointed RCMP officer was given the position of Special Constable to provide law enforcement capabilities in Ottawa during the Free Convoy protests in the capital from late January to much of February.
according to Report Once submitted to OPS, all appointments and re-appointments will be valid until July 4, 2022.
The report said below Under normal circumstances, OPS first seeks approval of the Ministry of Public Safety’s staffing, but in “urgent situations” such as the next Rolling Thunder protest, police will seek additional police oaths by the ministry and directors. Officers seeking approval from the association at the same time.
“These appointments ensure that each employee is able to perform the full range of their assigned duties,” the report said.
In addition, OPS also sought the approval of the Board to delegate authority to Chair Eli El-Chantiry, and Vice-Chair Suzanne Valiquet sought approval of additional Special Constable Status Requests deemed necessary for the Rolling Thunder event. I did. She “responds to the needs of new resources during the event.”
On April 25, OPS banned the escort of motorcycles from certain designated downtown core areas.
“We do not recognize any danger or illegal situation that could lead to another illegal protest as seen in February,” OPS said in a statement on April 25, referring to a protest by a truck driver in Canada Convoy. Said.
Freedom Convoy protests initially began to oppose the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine obligations imposed on all truck drivers across the Canadian-US border. When the convoy rolled around the country and arrived in Ottawa on January 29, it evolved into a national movement by supporters calling for the removal of all pandemic-related restrictions.
Following the state of emergency announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he enacted an emergency law on February 14, giving police special authority to remove protesters from downtown Ottawa.
The law could also order the towing company to remove parked trucks and supporter vehicles.In the process, the police Shake the baton and pepper spray Driven the demonstrators out of the center of the city. At one point, a mounted police officer was charged by the crowd, knocking down people and injuring an elderly woman who was admitted to the hospital.
Neil Sheard, the organizer of the Rolling Thunder event Said earlier this week He has been working with the city from the beginning and called on participants to maintain peace during the event.
“Remember when you come in: follow peace, love, respect, traffic rules, all highway rules. Be a good person. He was posted online on April 25th. Said in the video.
Omid Ghoreishi and Noé Charter contributed to this article
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Andrew Chen is a Toronto-based Epoch Times reporter.