TORONTO — Ontario Provincial Police are investigating reports that some of its officers donated to the so-called “Freedom Convoy” protests against COVID-19 measures. 

OPP spokesman Bill Dickson says the force is aware that members “appear to have made donations that have gone toward the unlawful protest in Ottawa.”

He says officers mustn’t do anything that could be interpreted as “condoning illegal activity,” and the police service holds officers accountable for their actions while on and off duty. 

Dickson did not say how many officers were being investigated.

His comments come after the Toronto Star reported finding the names of more than a dozen officers from the OPP, Toronto Police Service and Ottawa Police Service on a leaked list of donors to the protest’s “GiveFundGo” page. 

Toronto Police spokeswoman Connie Osborne declined to speculate on the validity of the “illegally obtained data” but said the service made its Professional Standards Unit aware of two names circulating on the list.

Ottawa Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 23, 2022.

The Canadian Press

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