National

Vancouver police officer is directed to remove Star of David patch from uniform

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Feb, 2024 11:07 AM

Vancouver police say an officer has been told to remove from his uniform a patch that shows the Star of David.

An image of the officer wearing the black patch that includes the star and white bars, similar to the Israeli flag, had been posted on social media on Thursday.

The Vancouver Police Department replied to the posting on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.

It says the patch "is not an approved part of the VPD uniform" and the officer has been directed to take it off.

The VPD has previously said unauthorized patches should not be worn on uniforms.

Deputy Chief Const. Fiona Wilson told the Vancouver Police Board in January last year that a reminder of the policy had been sent to all officers, after a complaint about an officer wearing a thin blue line patch.

A report to the board said the thin blue line patch was worn to express solidarity among officers but its use had generated "controversy and concern" among the community, including Indigenous advisers who perceived it as a "dividing line."

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

The British Columbia government says it is ending the state of emergency imposed last month when thousands of residents were chased out of their homes by wildfires. The government says in a statement the wildfire risk is diminishing in much of the province as temperatures cool, allowing most residents to return home.

B.C. to end state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

An RCMP expert testifying at Ibrahim Ali's murder trial told the court she has never seen a DNA match as close as the one between the suspect and samples found on his alleged victim — except for DNA matches between identical twins. Forensic biologist Christine Crossman said police investigators were very thorough in their collection and testing of genetic samples from the body of the 13-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by a publication ban.

DNA match in Ibrahim Ali murder case as exact as identical twins, B.C. court is told

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Former Abbotsford police chief Bob Rich has been appointed to look into the release of a man from British Columbia's psychiatric hospital before the man allegedly stabbed three people in Vancouver's Chinatown. Premier David Eby said Thursday that he has read the BC Review Board report on the accused and wants Rich to determine how the man could have been released, despite being a "really significant danger to the public."

Ex-B.C. police chief to investigate release of suspect before Chinatown stabbing

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

A senior government source says Ottawa is planning to remove the G-S-T on construction of new rental apartment buildings. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make the announcement today as he wraps up a three-day Liberal caucus retreat in London, Ontario.

Federal government will remove GST on new rental housing builds, senior source says

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

The group Sikhs for Justice, which has been staging a series of non-binding votes in several countries on the independence issue, says the first stage of balloting in B.C. on Sunday attracted more than 135,000 voters. It says the second stage will be held on Oct. 29 and will add a second question about whether High Commissioner Sanjay Verma was responsible for the "assassination" of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

B.C. Sikh referendum will ask if Indian diplomat was responsible for Nijjar killing

All former youth in care in B.C. now eligible for education tuition waivers: minister

British Columbia has expanded its tuition waiver program to include all former youth in government care enrolling in post-secondary education. Selina Robinson, post-secondary education and future skills minister, says the program is no longer capped at the student's 27th birthday.