A Durham, Ontario region police officer is now facing disciplinary charges for a video she posted online in support of the ‘Freedom Convoy’ while dressed in uniform.
Constable Erin Howard is charged under the Police Service Act with two counts of discreditable conduct, two counts of insubordination, and two counts of breach of confidence. She is due to make her first appearance before a tribunal on May 5.
In a video Howard posted to social media, she refers to the truckers who protested in Ottawa opposing COVID-19 mandates as “true heroes.”
She expressed solidarity with the convoy. “I wanted to give a shout out to all the truckers. I think what you guys are doing is incredible,” she said. “You’re fighting for our rights and freedoms, and, right now, it feels like we’re a little bit at war and those rights and freedoms are at stake”.
On Feb. 19, the protest in downtown Ottawa against COVID-19 mandates was dispersed by police agencies after having lasted for more than three weeks with protesters refusing orders to leave.
“Right now, it feels like we’re at war and those rights and freedoms are at stake,” Howard said in the video, previous to the protestors arrival in Ottawa. “You guys are honestly true heroes, what you are doing is incredible.”
Durham Regional Police had previously condemned the video on Twitter, clarifying that the opinions stated in Howard’s video do not reflect the views of the service.
