Daily BrewHalifax police tactical gear criticized at Remembrance Day event
Social media posts on Remembrance Day criticized the Halifax Regional Police for being heavily armed at a commemorative event in the city.
Halifax police at the ceremony were wearing flak vests and carrying large automatic rifles while working near the Grand Parade, as show in photos posted to Facebook and Twitter.
“If ever there is a day to put the guns and these costumes away and say we are not afraid, this is it,” John Wesley Chisholm posted on Facebook, along with a photo of two officers in tactical gear.
Others commented on Twitter, asking the force why the more imposing gear was necessary during a public event and on a day for honouring veterans and those killed in combat.
“Absolutely no need for #halifax police to be carrying weapons like that at Grand Parade,” @realfatapollo wrote.
Stoo Metz posted, “Seeing guns like this in the hands of @HfxRegPolice scares me more then the terrorists. #Halifax”
“It doesn’t make me feel safe,” Metz, a Halifax photographer, tells Yahoo Canada News. “It makes me worried we have less and less freedom because the guards now have bigger guns.“
Metz expressed his surprise at seeing the gear on police in Halifax during a public event.
“I didn’t think Halifax was there yet with the whole the general paramilitarization of domestic police forces,” he says.
Others tweeted in support of the force, and asked to put the focus back on the purpose of the Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Malakyi Goldsworthy tweeted, ”@HfxRegPolice as an veteran myself seeing police in tactical gear is kinda expected. Thank you all for being ready to protect us!“
”@HfxRegPolice too bad some people preoccupied with this instead of remembering / thanking armed forces, PD, fire and all first responders,“ @theKnovaScotian wrote.
Halifax police responded on Twitter in the afternoon to say that they had varying levels of response at the event to ensure public safety, which is their strategy for any event that draws a large crowd.
"We understand the presence of officers in tactical gear at various Remembrance Day services may have been unsettling for some,” Halifax police tweeted. “We scaled down response from last year & will explore ways to take even more low profile approach in future, while maintaining safety.”
The police also clarified that a drone seen flying at the event was not theirs.
The Grand Parade is a historic military parade square in Halifax that dates back to the city’s founding in 1749. It’s often the site of civic events, including Remembrance Day ceremonies.
