Ontario Provincial Police are taking aim at the authors of an April Fool’s article that claimed dozens of its officers were arrested.
The OPP said Wednesday the article also falsely claimed a state of emergency was declared in Huron County and that the policing responsibility for the community has been assumed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
It added the article erroneously stated the force’s detachment commander, five senior officers and 21 uniformed members were arrested.
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“While today is April 1, and the article may be intended as an April Fools’ joke, the OPP considers this type of content to be inappropriate and irresponsible, particularly when it mimics legitimate news reporting with the potential to cause unnecessary concern in the community,” the OPP said in a news release.
“Alleging police officers have been charged affects public trust and confidence, as well as public safety.”
The OPP added that content presented as humour can have real-world consequences.
“To be clear, no state of emergency has been declared in Huron County,” the force said.
“No OPP or municipal council members have been arrested and the RCMP has not assumed control of OPP operations. The OPP continues to provide policing services in Huron County without interruption.”
Poor wittle police mans. Thems the real victims in life
AI unfortunately will be a dangerous tool for misinformation as well.
Bunch of whiny babies. Who would believe that pigs would get arrested in those kinds of numbers, regardless?
Cops arrested ha , they do as they wish above the law
It’s easy to identify prank postings – they are properly checked for spelling and syntax UNLIKE THIS ARTICLE.
Global TV news today stated that Artemis II will be the first to see the back side of the moon – wrong.
I thought them clearing those lying Toronto cops of any wrong doing in their attempted frame up of Umar Zameer was an April Fool’s prank. Too bad it wasn’t. instead it was more proof, if anymore was needed, that cops will never do the right thing when policing themselves.
To be fair…nobody believes anything main stream media puts out these days.
Nothing to worry about OPP, no one trusted you guys in the first place