Interim Chief: 'vast majority' of officers have been 'extremely professional'

Steve Bell, the interim chief of Ottawa police, stood by the conduct of his officers during the operation to clear the Freedom Convoy out of the nation's capital.

  • By Rebel News
  • February 20, 2022
Interim Chief: 'vast majority' of officers have been 'extremely professional'
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Interim Ottawa police Chief Steve Bell credited his officers for their professional conduct during clashes with protesters while attempting to disperse the Freedom Convoy.

Speaking at a press conference Sunday afternoon, Bell fielded a question from Rebel News reporter David Menzies regarding the use of force against another Rebel reporter, Alexa Lavoie, on Saturday.

“So I'm unfamiliar with the incident your speaking of,” the interim chief said of the video which has been viewed more than 100,000 times on Twitter.

“[T]he vast majority of our members have been extremely professional,” Bell said. “They have executed an extremely methodical plan that has been focused on the safety the residents, the safety of our officers and the safety of the people engaged in the protest.”

Bell noted that there are mechanisms for complaints regarding police use of force, and that there are “review mechanisms that will be engaged following this for any use of force incident that occurred.”

Rebel News boss Ezra Levant declared his intentions to sue the Ottawa police for their conduct in a post on Twitter yesterday, saying:

I have spoken with Alexa and with legal counsel. We will sue the police on Alexa's behalf. I know the rest of the Media Party is delighting at Trudeau's brutality and martial law. But we still believe in peace and freedom.

Asked by Menzies about whether he thought the situation in Ottawa warranted the invocation of the never-before-used Emergencies Act, Bell said that he felt both provincial and federal emergency orders were “absolutely supportive to helping us end the illegal occupation of our streets.”

“What could be described as bylaw infractions were actually terrorizing moments for the city, the residents and the communities that came around those areas,” Bell stated. The legislative backing, the interim chief said, were “extremely beneficial” in helping clear the streets.

Numerous instances of violence happened between police, protesters and journalists, most notably with the trampling of protesters by mounted police yesterday. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, the police watchdog, announced it was investigating a serious injury reported yesterday during the protest, CBC reported.

Leaked messages obtained by Rebel News suggested some officers found joy in the enforcement.

Another incident saw an officer repeatedly knee an individual who had been detained.

In another occurrence, a heavily armed riot officer stood on a Canadian flag.

A statement posted online by Ottawa police warned protesters that they would be actively tracking down individuals involved and targeting them with financial sanctions and criminal charges.

Rebel News journalists have been in Ottawa since the convoy arrived. To support our independent journalism, and to see all of our reporting on the Freedom Convoy, visit ConvoyReports.com.

Convoy Reports Ottawa Police Canada Ontario Emergencies Act Stand With Alexa
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