A Winnipeg Police officer appeared to retaliate against the driver of a vehicle during a traffic stop on Tuesday night, December 8, 2020, after the passenger in the car questioned the officer about not wearing a face mask.
The officer had just handed the driver of the vehicle his license and registration back after he had been stopped for failing to move to a farther lane when he allegedly passed a stopped emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated.
At this point the female passenger asked the officer “Why are you not wearing your mask when you’re yelling?” The officer responded with ” Cause I’m not within six feet of you and you know what? If you want to do it that way then I’ll just write a ticket. Is that the way you want to do this?”
As the passenger continues to question the officer he places his hand in the window of the car and tells the driver “Ok, you know what you can give me your stuff back you’re going to get a ticket.” When asked why the driver was going to get a ticket the officer replied, “You were going to get a warning, I was being polite, you’re not being polite.”
Winnipeg Police Service issued a statement Wednesday afternoon confirming that they are aware of the video and that officers are “expected to wear face masks during interactions with members of the public unless social distancing is being practiced.”
The statement went on to say that the officer has been spoken to by his commanding officer about his conduct.
Police say that they have been in contact with Manitoba Prosecution Services regarding the traffic stop and are attempting to contact the driver of the vehicle involved.
© News4.ca 2020
