OPP reviewing interaction between officer, protesters outside Trudeau event

The Ontario Provincial Police has launched a review after one of its officers was recorded vocally supporting — and possibly helping — protesters outside an event with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week.

In a video posted online, the officer is seen interacting with protesters in Alliston, Ont., about an hour and 45 minutes north of Toronto. Trudeau, members of his cabinet and government officials were visiting the region at the time for amulti-billion dollar electric vehicle investment announcement.

The now widely seen footage shows one of the protesters asking which entrance the prime minister is using.

The officer points off-screen and says, «He came in this way.»

'I'm on board with you guys,' officer says

He then asks the protester recording to do him a favour.

«I'm on board with you guys,» the officer says. «But just no profanity.»

The officer then says he took issue with another protester in the group calling Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland a sexist slur and threatening to beat up an OPP officer.

«There's 6,000 of us employed on the OPP. I'm pretty sure not all 6,000 voted for Trudeau,» says the officer.

The protester then mentions what he calls the «catch-and-release» bail system — a term used by critics of the justice system to describe offenders being released into the community who then re-offend.

«Officers getting shot for guys that are already out on violent crimes,» says the protester, likely referring to the 2022 death of OPP officer Greg Pierzchala. One of his alleged killers was out on bail and under a lifetime ban on owning a firearm.

In response, the officer calls it «ridiculous.»

In a statement posted online, the OPP said it's reviewing the matter and taking it seriously.

«This video has raised