Montreal police say new patch for fallen officers will be available next week
Montreal police officers will soon have the option of wearing a new badge on their uniforms to commemorate their fallen members.
At a ceremony Wednesday evening for families of officers killed in the line of duty, the Montreal police service (SPVM) presented them with the badges, which include the phrase "Tombé(e)s mais jamais oublié(e)s," or "Fallen but never forgotten" in English. The force says it is "a symbol of solidarity and respect for those who have given their lives in the service of the public."
The new badges will first be offered to uniformed officers as of next week, while a smaller version will be distributed to civilian officers at a later date, a spokesperson told CTV News.
The badge, officially unveiled in May following a review of the dress code, replaces the controversial "Thin Blue Line" patches worn by some Montreal officers in recent years.
Social justice advocates and at least one MNA in the national assembly have criticized the use of the Thin Blue Line patches, which include a black and white Canadian flag with a horizontal blue line through the centre of it.
While it has historically been used by officers to commemorate fallen law enforcement officers, it has also been associated with the far right in Canada and the U.S.
A review by the Vancouver Police Service found that variations of the symbol have been worn by some explicitly racist rallies in the U.S, including the infamous 2017 Unite the Right white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., and various counter-protests against the Black Lives Matter movement.
After on-duty officers in Montreal were spotted wearing them, including when demonstrators held a rally in Jarry Park in support of the Ottawa "Freedom Convoy" protest in 2022, Quebec Solidaire MNA Andres Fontecilla wrote a letter to Quebec's public safety minister saying they were problematic.
After the new patches were unveiled, Fontecilla applauded police chief Fady Dagher for finding a solution.
"Yes, police officers have the right to remember their colleagues who died in the line of duty, but the 'thin blue line' has been taken over by the far right. This creates distrust among the population especially among communities that experience racial profiling. The idea of creating a Montreal police badge is the right solution," Fontecilla told CTV News in a May 2024 interview.
The 'Allée des Braves' is a space dedicated to honouring Montreal officers who have died in the line of duty. (Montreal police)
Other police forces in Canada have banned the patches, including the Ottawa Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
On Wednesday evening, the solemn SPVM ceremony also inaugurated the "Allée des Braves," a space dedicated to honouring the 21 officers who have died.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
'Shameful': Monument honouring fallen soldiers included names of living veterans
Veterans are asking for answers after discovering that two sculptures in Ontario honouring fallen soldiers include the names of many people who are very much alive.
WATCH LIVE 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon airs Saturday on CTV
A beloved yearly tradition, the Christmas Daddies Telethon airs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, on CTV.
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
Invasive species could be hiding in your Christmas decor. Here's how to stop the spread
Make sure to look through your holiday decorations, as Christmas trees, wreaths, and other natural decor can have invasive insects, eggs, and plants that pose a threat to local ecosystems and the economy.
Long time coming: Taylor Swift's Eras Tour arrives at final stop in Vancouver
Pop superstar Taylor Swift greeted some 55,000 eager fans in downtown Vancouver Friday with what’s become a familiar opening line.
Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog
WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year.
One out of 10 Canadians had packages stolen in the past year: survey
One out of 10 Canadians say they have had at least one package stolen in the last year, according to a survey.
Calgary company steps up to help grieving family with free furnace after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning
A Calgary furnace company stepped up big time Friday to help a Calgary family grieving the loss of a loved one.