OPP officer in hot water for de-escalating Trudeau protest
The officer's words were reasonable and accurate, but video of his encounter with a protester has gone viral thanks to social media
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Apr 26, 2024 • Last updated 1 day ago • 4 minute read
One fact people should always remember in today’s world is that you are always on camera.
And while the camera may not lie, those spinning the agenda from the footage captured may spin it their own way.
This will be the lesson OPP Const. D. Stephenson may learn from his interaction on Wednesday in Alliston with protesters who were there to demonstrate against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he and Ontario Premier Doug Ford made a billion-dollar EV plant announcement.
“Can you do me a favour?” the officer asked, while approaching anti-Trudeau protesters. “I am on board with you guys, just no profanity.”
The protester agrees with the officer and explains, “I am on a live feed.”
This would be a clue to the officer to remember there are people watching in a toxic political world where police officers are highly scrutinized. But he didn’t seem worried.
“He’s a little out there and I wouldn’t want my wife and kids to drive by with him yelling all that Chrystia Freeland is a slut, you know, I want to beat an OPP officer, f— the OPP,” said Stephenson. “There is 6,000 of us employed on the OPP and I am pretty sure not 6,000 voted for Trudeau.”
The protester said he understood, especially with the “catch and release” of criminals, to which the officer said, “It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Stephenson also told them it’s “private property” and they would be trespassing if they went on there.
Everything Stephenson said was reasonable and accurate. But thanks to social media, the video has gone viral.
“Who is this cop?” Natalie Dion asked on X. “We need to find him. Putting our PM at risk, telling ditch dwellers which entrance and exit he’ll be using.”
In the end, ironically, the camera may be what helps Stephenson because allegations he helped reveal the Trudeau motorcade route is a huge stretch. While he did say “he came in this way,” he didn’t didn’t answer when asked which way the motorcade was leaving. Everybody there knew Trudeau had entered the Toyota plant, so any suggestion their secret security plans were revealed are nonsense.
But like the system does when it’s got someone easy to nail in their crosshairs, there seems to be a frenzy to pile on Stephenson. The anti-police, anti-freedom movement seem to only like it when it’s anti-Semites or communists are given the kid glove treatment.
When it comes to treating Freedom Convoy types respectfully, while calmly asking them to dial things down or face arrest, they want police belligerence. But not for their Marxist, anti-Jewish friends.
Stephenson was cordial and professional, but he was firm. He was merely trying to keep a lid on things and that’s a lot better than abusing power or getting needless confrontations going.
But many don’t agree.
“This is a terrible violation of the OPSEC (Operational security),” The Cookie Lady posted on X.
A campaign to destroy an officer just doing his job has begun.
“The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is aware of a video circulating on social media of an interaction in Alliston between an OPP officer and a member of the public on April 25, 2024,” the OPP wrote in a statement on X. “The video has raised concerns about professionalism and depicts opinions that are not in line with the OPP’s values.”
The statement also said: “The OPP respects everyone’s right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. OPP also recognizes the rights of the general public, local residents and elected officials to a safe environment. The OPP wants to assure the public that this matter is being taken seriously and is currently under review.”
Trudeau also weighed in, telling reporters, “I emphasize and understand the right to protest is really important” and “in a democracy, your freedom to disagree with the government is something we perhaps take for granted here in Canada.”
The problem is this was nothing more than a police officer in the field de-escalating a situation, keeping things under control and establishing fairness – something that worked. They can claim he was expressing a political opinion, but every cop knows this was just a guy looking to prevent a major incident in what officers tell me is akin to working undercover and talking to a drug dealer.
There’s always a means to an end. Some get it. Some refuse to.
“What a glorious time it was when people didn’t instantly start recording every interaction,” SlickforNewman posted on X. “Must be nice to criticize an officer for doing a job you wouldn’t be able to do in a million years.”
The OPP should focus their time on catching carjackers and drug dealers and perhaps give Const. Stephenson a pat on the back.
jwarmington@postmedia.com
One fact people should always remember in today’s world is that you are always on camera.
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