Hugh Stevenson was knocking on doors in Elliot Lake on Wednesday in a jacket that had the words 'Chief of Police' on it below the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service crest.
A reader contacted SooToday to ask if this was inappropriate, considering Stevenson abruptly resigned from the position late last month to run for the Conservative Party of Canada in Sault Ste. Marie - Algoma.
An ElliotLakeToday reporter interviewed Stevenson on Wednesday while he was knocking on doors. Stephen Calverley also photographed the former chief in that coat.
Scott Blandford, an associate professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, said he thinks it was “inappropriate and misleading” for Stevenson to wear that jacket while canvassing.
What’s unclear, he said, is whether it breaches a section of the Criminal Code of Canada that governs police uniforms.
“If he is officially retired then the wearing of the jacket is, in my opinion, inappropriate as it conveys the perception that he is still the chief of police, and therefore he has politicized his position,” said Blandford, the university’s coordinator of policing and public policy.
He said it could be considered a criminal offence under section 130 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Blandford pointed out two parts of the law that might relate to Stevenson wearing his chief of police jacket while campaigning.
Part 1 B says “not being a peace officer or public officer, uses a badge or article of uniform or equipment in a manner that is likely to cause persons to believe that he is a peace officer or a public officer.”
Part 5 says “a police officer may engage in any political activity if the officer is off-duty and not in uniform.”
“At the very minimum, the wearing of that jacket, which is likely an informal jacket he wore while chief to denote his position, is inappropriate in that it could create the perception in the eyes of the community that his political position is rooted in a ‘law & order’ mandate that may sway a voter’s opinion,” Blandford said.
“He should refrain from doing this. He can certainly speak to his policing experience in stating his position, but the wearing of an article of clothing that creates the perception that he is still connected to the police service or would give his political position greater gravitas is wrong.”
Blandford wasn't certain that Stevenson broke the law, but he said it's possible.
“That’s for someone else to determine,” he said.
Lincoln Louttit, manager of corporate communications with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, said the clothing the former chief was wearing “is not a service issued uniform.”
He referred questions to Elections Canada and to Stevenson himself. Calls to Stevenson were not returned.
“There's nothing in the Canada Elections Act that mentions any restrictions on what candidates can wear while canvassing,” said Toby Rollo, chair of political science at Lakehead University.
He agreed Stevenson wearing that jacket could mislead people into thinking he’s still with the police service.
Most police organizations require officers to request permission to wear their uniforms when off duty.
“Retired officers are usually allowed to keep their ‘full dress’ uniforms for ceremonies, and many police organizations still require retired members to get permission to wear the uniform,” he said.
Even then, there are often special retired badges that distinguish active members from retired members.
“To my knowledge, there aren't any rules prohibiting former officers from wearing merely 'branded' clothing.
“In general, however, it is probably very bad form for a candidate who was formerly in the military or law enforcement to canvas in anything that identifies them as an officer as it clearly carries the sense that they are representing the police," Rollo said.
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, who serves on the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board, would not comment on the jacket.
“It is my responsibility to work with whoever gets elected to advance Sault Ste. Marie’s priorities with the next federal government,” Shoemaker said.
“As such, I’m not going to comment on the conduct of candidates during the campaign – that’s for voters to evaluate.”
Terry Sheehan, the incumbent Liberal candidate, said he’s not worried about the jacket.
Sheehan said he was knocking on doors in Elliot Lake and Blind River two weeks ago.
“The number one concern we heard was the threat Donald Trump poses to our economic security. People overwhelmingly agreed that Mark Carney is the best person to deal with Trump.
“We continue to engage with people throughout the Algoma District, and to this day we are hearing about the threat tariffs are to our region, and our economic security remains the number one issue.”
Sheehan said that’s what he’s focused on, “not on what the Conservatives are doing or wearing.”
The NDP's Laura Mayer did not respond to a request for comment.
The president of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Association, Joshua Teresinski, also did not respond to a request for comment nor did John Bruno, chair of the Sault Police Services Board.