Calgary police officers no longer required to share their name

A new Calgary police pilot project means that officers won’t be required to share their name if asked.

Officials say the pilot is aimed at keeping their officers safe and reducing the risk of being doxxed.

Calgary police say doxxing has increased across the country, particularly with officers who handle protests.

“We live in extraordinarily strange times,” said Doug King, a professor of criminal justice at Mount Royal University.

“It might be vandalism, it might be someone confronts the officer on the street, someone confronts the officer while they’re out for dinner with their family.”

Police say information on officers can be easy to find online if people know the officer’s name and face, which they say can be extremely dangerous.

Officers will still wear their name badge and be required to say their regimental number when asked.

Some people online are taking issue with the change, writing that they feel it lessens accountability for officers.

Other concerns are that if someone wants to file a complaint, a name is much easier to remember than a number.

Some also agree with the pilot, saying “we sometimes forget officers might also need protection.”

King says this doesn’t reduce the ability for people to flag their concerns.

“Say it happened at this time, at this location, and the police agency will be able to figure out who the officer was,” he said.

King adds many officers have already taken steps to help protect their identity by staying off social media or even living outside of city limits to keep their work and private life separate.

Calgary police say they will review the pilot once it’s complete to see if any changes are needed.