Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell. The Ottawa Police Department has approved the appointment of up to 831 RCMP officers to assist municipal police, who have promised a strong presence in the capital this weekend as a bicycle convoy heads to the city. Ottawa police have asked the board to approve the swift appointment of “up to 200” additional officers as they prepare for a second escort, this time involving hundreds of motorcycles instead of trucks. Up to 631 RCMP members appointed to help end the downtown blockade in February could also be reappointed as required. The Ottawa Police Department says it is requesting that these appointments end on July 4 “pending further events and demonstrations.” They usually last five years. Interim Police Chief Steve Bell told Ottawa City Councilors earlier Wednesday that his force has no plans to turn the Rolling Thunder Convoy into another illegal occupation and that officers will act quickly when they see any wrongdoing. “Threatening or intimidating behavior will be dealt with with all appropriate enforcement measures,” Bell said. “Investigative teams, including the hate crimes unit, are in operation, focusing on gathering evidence and prosecuting where needed. “Displaying hate symbols like swastikas will lead to accusations.” The leader also tried to reassure residents still shocked by the Freedom Convoy, in which hundreds of protesters occupied the center of the center for three weeks to protest COVID-19 restrictions and demand the resignation of the Liberal government. . The occupation disrupted traffic, forced businesses to close, and sparked allegations of intimidation, harassment and hate speech. The relentless honking of large stands disturbed the residents for days. Police leader Peter Sloli resigned after many criticized the police that he had no harder stance with the protesters. The protest, which also disrupted several border crossings with the United States, ended after the Liberal federal government invoked the Emergency Law and police stepped in to arrest and detain dozens of people. In a message to Ottawa residents, Bell said police would not “allow precarious or illegal conditions that could lead to another protest.” “We have heard your concerns,” he said. “We know you’re still recovering from the disorder and the crime.” The Rolling Thunder band was not clear about the purpose for which they are gathering, other than to say that they will be in Ottawa to “celebrate our freedom peacefully.” The Rolling Thunder Ottawa website said it was working with Veterans for Freedom and Freedom Fighters Canada, both of which appear to have links to Freedom Convoy. Veterans for Freedom describes itself on its website as a group of Canadian veterans working to “restore fundamental freedoms for all Canadians” and “abide by Canadian law.” The members of this group’s steering committee all have links to previous demonstrations, including one that was among the escort representatives. Others appeared on YouTube videos supporting escort protesters. The Freedom Fighters Canada website states that it is an organization that “demands the end of all government mandates” and the end of “tyrannical legislation”. Some of its organizers also attended or publicly supported previous demonstrations. Bell told city councilors that police are in contact with Rolling Thunder organizers, who expect more than 500 motorcycles to arrive in the city. The force is also working with the RCMP and intelligence services to identify potential threats. “Residents will see a large police presence, including law enforcement officers and the parking lot,” he added. “There will be a significant increase in officers from the Ontario Provincial Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other municipal police jurisdictions.” The organizers of the procession said that they plan to make a circle around the city, with a stop at the National War Memorial as well as a procession and gathering on the hill of Parliament where speeches will be made. Police will not let the protesters bring their bikes to the streets around the hill of parliament, creating a possible conflict, but Bell told councilors that there was no plan to build a fence around the National War Monument. The Freedom Escort protesters were criticized for standing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and parking their trucks at the site during the first week of the occupation. Fences were erected but later demolished by protesters. Several city councilors representing areas around the center’s center have expressed concerns about reports that escort participants plan to settle in or pass through different neighborhoods, and asked what police plan to do about it. There were also concerns about the intervention of the route in a large bicycle fundraiser for the Eastern Ontario Children’s Hospital, which is scheduled for Saturday. Bell indicated that police would closely monitor the Rolling Thunder convoy during its ride through the city, backed by tugs and natural obstacles. Police also plan to have “rapid response teams” ready to respond to emergencies, he said. Downtown Ottawa city councilor Katherine McKenney told Bell that residents are nervous and “they are also bored. “And the people I hear from are not going to invade their neighborhoods with white supremacy, racist, extremist groups of people.”
