Halifax lawyer raises concerns over RCMP name tag policy change
RCMP name tag policy raises police accountability concerns in Halifax Supporters want clearer ID to track officers during protests and complaints
A Halifax lawyer says a new RCMP policy that lets officers choose whether to wear a name tag or a fivedigit regimental number could make police harder to identify and hold accountable.
The change, which has been in place since March 30, was introduced in part to protect officers from online harassment and doxing. RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Maj. Julie Gagnon said some officers had their private information exposed and, in some cases, received death threats.
Defence lawyer Asaf Rashid argued that numbers are harder for the public to remember during fastmoving incidents and said officers should display both a name and a number. He pointed to past concerns about police conduct and said clearer identification helps transparency.
The issue has renewed debate over police accountability, including findings from a 2024 RCMP complaints report that said removing name tags without a simple alternative can make it harder for the public to identify officers during protests.