‘Outnumbered’ blasts Trudeau over actions against truckers: ‘Canada is now led by a tyrant’
The ‘Outnumbered’ panel discusses actions taken by PM Justin Trudeau and the Ottawa police against the Canadian trucker convoy.
"A veteran police officer in Canada's Peel region was demoted after pleading guilty to "discreditable conduct" over a 2021 video showing him hugging anti-lockdown protesters."
Const. Paul Brown was demoted from his sergeant position for a year after a discipline hearing last month, according to Mississauga News, for his conduct with protesters outside a Mississauga gym that opened to the public despite provincial stay-at-home orders.
The report also detailed that Brown caught flak for stances he expressed in the recording, supporting the protesters and noting that he disagreed with lockdown and mask mandates in place at the time.
Peel Regional Police emblem on a police vehicle during Community Crime Prevention Day in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, on September 24, 2022. (Photo by Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)
He was also not wearing a mask in the recording.
The incident created a stir among some in the department at the time, including Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah, who criticized Brown over his refusal to abide by COVID protocol enforcement.
"Upon learning of the incident, I immediately directed that the sergeant be suspended and commenced an Internal Affairs investigation," Duraiappah said in a statement at the time. "Peel Regional Police are committed to ensuring the safety of our members and the public. Our officers will enforce municipal and provincial regulations as required."
Retired Superintendent Peter Lennox, the hearing officer who released the decision, later alleged Brown's actions "might have eroded public confidence in Peel Regional Police’s willingness to enforce the law," according to Missisauga News' report.
Sean O'Shea, a reporter with Canada's Global News, showed up at the site and recorded the video where protesters confronted him and accused him of "communism" and "fascism" for toeing the lockdown line.
"Uniformed Peel Police sergeant is all hugs with supporters of HUF gym before and after one of their group members pursued me. No masks. He offers me a hug, too. I decline. City ordered gym closed; they refuse," he captioned.
O'Shea criticized Brown for fraternizing with the protesters, especially while refusing to wear a mask in the middle of the pandemic.
A protester stands with a Canadian flag near the parliament building in Wellington on February 8, 2022, during a demonstration against Covid restrictions, inspired by a similar demonstration in Canada. (Photo by MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)
HUF Gym, the site of the protests, refused to close its doors to clients despite area restrictions. Mississauga News said the establishment's Instagram shared a separate video of Brown to its page and, in it, he stated his unwillingness to enforce the COVID policies demonstrators were protesting.
Brown was suspended at the time and placed on paid leave during an internal investigation.
Despite backlash, Brown's defense team claimed his actions were done with intent to keep the peace instead of advance an agenda.
Joanne Mulcahy, Brown's attorney, reportedly told Lennox that he would take back his actions if he could.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Mulcahy also defended him for attending other protests, including the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa and a separate rally in Toronto on his personal time, arguing that he never identified himself as a police officer during the event.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Peel Regional Police for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
Fox News First
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.