An Alberta police officer disciplined for speaking at a Freedom Convoy rally has had his suspension without pay overturned by an Edmonton judge who called the punishment “not justifiable.”
Justice James Nelson of Alberta Court of King’s Bench said in his Jan. 3 decision that the “facts and evidence” used to justify the suspension of Edmonton Police Service Staff Sergeant Richard Abbott were muddled.
While noting higher standards for police officers can limit their freedom of expression when compared with ordinary citizens, Nelson said that “we are left, in my view, with factual distinctions that could be drawn from the evidence.” He said the initial ruling had not reflected “any balancing analysis” of Abbott’s Charter rights. The latest ruling handed down by Nelson was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter….