Controversy has erupted over whether the Ottawa Police should provide officers to protect ceremonial guards at the National War Memorial.
In the wake of the Oct. 22 shooting at the Elgin Street Monument, which claimed the life of army reservist Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, the Canadian military is exploring the possibility of police protection for unarmed sentries in the capital.
Law enforcement agencies are tight-lipped about the status of any negotiations with the Department of National Defence, but Ottawa police is a likely option for providing security, confirms DND spokeswoman Dominique Tessier. “We remain undeterred in paying tribute to this nation’s fallen and continue, resolutely, to show dignity and respect for this important national site,” Tessier said in a prepared statement.
“The Canadian Armed Forces are currently investigating options for on-site security for the National Sentry Program in 2015 and the Ottawa Police Service is amongst those options.”
Ottawa Police Supt. Scott Nystedt told the CBC last week that DND is requesting two armed constables with standard-issue handguns to guard the sentries at the memorial. Nystedt also said the security shifts would be voluntary on the part of the police officers.
While the details of a potential agreement are still being negotiated, Eli El-Chantiry, chair of Ottawa’s Police Services Board, says if Ottawa supplies officers to protect the sentries then DND will have to pay for it.
“We would expect a full cost recovery, because really we are in no position to offer service without compensation, no matter who the request comes from,” El-Chantiry said in an interview with CBC last week.
Sentries have stood guard at the war memorial since 2007 as a symbol of respect to the fallen soldiers and to protect the monument from vandalism and desecration after three young men were photographed urinating on the tomb the year prior, during the annual Canada Day fireworks show.
Although the guards carry rifles for ceremonial purposes, the firearms are not loaded as a public safety precaution.
“Guards guarding guards. It’s an unusual step, but it’s not unprecedented,” says security expert David Hyde, comparing Ottawa’s sentries with the Queen’s guards at Buckingham Palace – who were moved behind metal fences in December for the first time since the 1970s IRA bombings, following incidents at the Ottawa war memorial. Some have since been accompanied by armed police.
“It all comes down to the level of threat. Is the level of threat in Ottawa at a level that would dictate the need for this kind of protection?”
Hyde says DND needs to assess the level of threat in Ottawa and consider all options before deciding on as extreme a measure as armed police. Like Britain, Hyde suggests creating a standoff distance to separate the ceremonial guards from the public as one option, as well as varying shifts and locations of the guards. Another option includes having the guards wear bulletproof vests while on duty.
Michel Juneau-Katsuya, former Canadian Security Intelligence officer, says he can hardly see the need for such an inquiry from DND when the shooting is the only incident to occur since the guards have been on ceremonial duty.
“We need to understand that sometimes bad things happen, but it does not mean that it will be a regular thing. Let’s not over-react. ”
The sentries are expected to return to their posts April 9, the anniversary of the 1917 Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Hyde says it’s necessary for DND to take reasonable steps to protect the ceremonial guards, but added that he would hate to see the capital turn to police as the single solution.
“Armed police is one option. It’s not the only one.”