Ontario police officer that supported ‘Freedom Convoy 2022’ facing multiple charges

A Durham Regional Police officer is facing multiple disciplinary charges after she posted a video online praising members of the “Freedom Convoy 2022.”

On January 24, Const. Erin Howard took to Twitter to shout out all the truckers involved in the anti-COVID-19 vaccine mandate protest.

“I think what you guys are doing is incredible. You’re fighting for our rights and freedoms, and right now, it feels like we’re a little bit at war, and it feels like those rights and freedoms are at stake,” Howard says in the video.

“You guys are honestly true heroes. What you’re doing is just incredible.”

Howard claimed she would travel to Ottawa to show support for the convoy and its members. Durham Regional Police issued a statement shortly after confirming that investigators were looking into Howard’s video.

On Tuesday, the DRPS confirmed that Howard faces several charges, including two counts of discreditable conduct, two counts of insubordination and two counts of a breach of confidence.

Howard will appear in court on May 5.

Related stories:

• Bail denied for Ottawa protest leader Tamara Lich, decision expected for Pat King on Friday

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Howard had shared controversial opinions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and public health measures. She retweeted an account on January 16, 2022, stating, in part, “2 years of data have shown masks to be useless in most circumstances. It’s time we abandon the ‘wear a mask to protect others’ propaganda.”

Howard tweeted on January 2, 2022, questioning the use and purpose of vaccine passports, writing: “So what is the general consensus? Have [vaccine] passports controlled the spread of Covid? Can we agree to scrap them and move on?”

In the “Freedom Convoy 2022” movement, which started on January 22, hundreds of vehicles formed convoys from several points and traversed Canadian provinces before converging on Ottawa and Parliament Hill a few days later.

The truckers convoy was initially created to protest vaccine orders for crossing the United States border but later developed into a rally against COVID-19 mandates.

On behalf of Ottawa residents and businesses, a lawsuit is looking for more than $300 million in damages from truckers and donors.

Several key organizers of the “Freedom Convoy 2022” protests in Ottawa, including Pat King and Tamara Lich, were arrested and charged.