WhyProhibition.ca is joining with LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) and the BCCLA (British Columbia Civil Liberties Association) in opposing the decision by Victoria Police to censor one of their officers. It’s clear that police departments across Canada and the United States consistently speak out in favour of prohibition, including producing, in the case of the RCMP, bogus research to support prohibition.

Join with LEAP, the BCCLA and WhyProhibition.ca and demand the Victoria Police stop this selective censorship of their officers who choose to speak out against the failure of drug prohibition.

Sign the Petition: http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com/freespeech

Active duty police officer and LEAP speaker/blogger David Bratzer was planning to accept an invitation to speak about drug policy and harm reduction at an official city government-sponsored event this week…until his police department’s leadership stepped in and ordered him not to show up.

If you think such censorship is unfair, please add your name to LEAP’s petition at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com/freespeech to show your support for cops like David who speak out against unjust and ineffective drug polices even while they risk their lives enforcing them.

There are more details in the press release that follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2010

B.C. Police Officer Ordered Not to Discuss Drug Policy and Harm Reduction

Civil Liberties Advocates File Complaint With Victoria Police Board

VICTORIA, BC – An international group of cops, judges and prosecutors who oppose the “war on drugs” is criticizing a gag order from the Victoria Police Department that limits the freedom of expression of one of its officers. The officer, David Bratzer, who volunteers with the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) while off-duty, has been ordered not to speak at an official City of Victoria-sponsored event on harm reduction scheduled for this Wednesday, March 3 at 7:00 P.M.

Even though the event is scheduled outside of his regular work hours, management from the Victoria Police Department, without Bratzer’s knowledge, informed city staff that he was being withdrawn from speaking. Then on February 24, a senior officer at the department directly ordered Bratzer not to participate in the event.

In response to these developments, Bratzer stated: "I will not be attending this event, but I would like to thank the City of Victoria for the invitation to be part of an honest and open discussion about harm reduction. I will try to find other venues to present my views about drug policy."

Upon learning of the department’s order, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association filed a complaint with the Victoria Police Board.

Bratzer has always taken pains to state that his opinions are his own and do not reflect the views of his employer. He has participated in a number of credible venues related to drug policy during the past year, including delivering testimony to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in Ottawa (video available from LEAP).

“The voices of front-line officers who are charged with enforcing the drug laws are incredibly important to the public debate on drug policy issues,” said Jack Cole, a retired American undercover narcotics detective who serves as executive director for LEAP. “Preventing an officer from sharing his firsthand perspective about the harms of our current drug laws with policymakers is a disservice to the entire democratic process.”

LEAP is hosting an online petition at http://www.CopsSayLegalizeDrugs.com/freespeech where people can speak up in support of law enforcers’ rights to exercise their freedom of speech and criticize drug polices that they disagree with.

As the above matter is now a sensitive labour issue, Bratzer will not be commenting further for the time being. Please contact LEAP for further information.

The BC Civil Liberties Association is also supporting LEAP and asking the Victoria Police to clarrify their position:

BCCLA complaint wants police free speech policy defined

Vancouver, B.C. – An allegation that a Victoria Police Department police officer has been ordered not to discuss harm reduction at an upcoming drug policy conference has caused the BCCLA to file a policy complaint with the Victoria Police Board. The complaint asks the Board to define an off-duty speech policy for officers in line with Charter free speech values.

“Police officers from Vancouver speak regularly on drug policy, often contradicting official VPD policy,” said Jason Gratl, Vice-President of the BCCLA. “We’re not sure why Victoria’s policy would be different. Both departments are governed by the same Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

In 2007, Vancouver Police Department (VPD) officer John McKay criticized the four pillar approach to drug policy in Vancouver in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, calling it “a failed social experiment.” At the time the VPD supported, and still currently supports, the four pillar approach. The BCCLA is not aware of any discipline or limits imposed on Mr. Mckay.

In 2008, a complaint was filed against VPD officer Mark Steinkampf for criticizing the Insite safe injection site in the media, contrary to VPD policy, while in uniform and on duty. The complaint resulted in the following finding by the VPD senior management investigator:

. . . Sergeant Steinkampf’s expression of what were clearly his personal views did not constitute a disciplinary default under the Police Act. . . there are many examples of members publicly expressing opinions at variance with VPD policy.

“When Chief Graham worked in Vancouver, he tolerated members speaking out against official policy on drug issues,” notes Gratl. “We hope he and the Victoria Police Board will investigate our concerns and assure the public that they support free speech on critical matters of public policy for their off-duty officers.”

BCCLA letter to Victoria Police Department Police Board >>

Related Links

• Sign the Petition!