The Toronto Police Service is investigating two of its officers for their online posts about Hamas’ attacks on Israel.
“We are aware of the posts and Professional Standards are investigating,” said TPS spokesperson Stephanie Sayer on Thursday.
One of the two officers being investigated is a Toronto Police constable at 23 Division and the other is a special constable with the Community Safety Unit and Toronto Community Housing, according to the Toronto Sun.
Const. Shumail Mian allegedly posted on his Instagram a cartoon of media cameras focusing on an Israeli man in a blue shirt wearing a Star of David necklace while in the backdrop there are pools of blood with decapitated heads and severed bodies on the other side of the border in Gaza. Beneath the cartoon was the hashtag #freepalestine.
The other post in question, allegedly from Special Const. Mustafa Rahmanzadeh, was a meme depicting a portrait of Adolph Hitler morphing into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu across several panels.
It is accompanied by a headline that reads, “How can you inflict the same torture that your own people suffered?” The caption was followed by the words “may Allah swt (sic) destroy the oppressors.”
Hamas began its unprecedented attack on Israel Saturday, so far resulting in 1,400 dead and more than 100 kidnapped.
No charges have been laid against the officers and neither of them have commented publicly on the investigation or the posts.
“There is no confidence from the community that these officers would properly protect them and because of that they should immediately be removed from duty,” said deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman, who represents the Thornhill riding. “There is no place for the glorification of terror, kidnapping, murder and rape and there should be consequences.”
B’nai Brith Canada spokesperson Richard Robertson said it is “incredibly concerning and disheartening to know that several peace officers allegedly have engaged in sharing antisemitic content.”
“Toronto’s Jews must be assured that the city’s police force remains committed to serving and protecting all its citizens” because “those officers do not instill such confidence,” Robertson added.
TPS said it is committed to its mission of public safety while protecting free speech and the right to protest.
The Toronto Police Association, the union representing TPS members, is refraining from weighing in on the matter until the investigation has concluded.
“The Toronto Police Service has stated that any comment which is perceived to jeopardize the integrity and reputation of the organization will be investigated by Professional Standards,” said TPA president Jon Reid. “Given these cases are now subject to possible discipline, we will not be commenting further.”
A similar incident occurred earlier this week when an Air Canada pilot posted a photo of himself donning Palestinian colours and several memes which were deemed to be inappropriate by the airline, resulting in him being taken “out of service.”
