Heiltsuk Nation says an RCMP officer is being transferred out of the community following claims of him making racist comments and posts on social media.

sa国际传媒淲e want to thank our community for reporting the racist Facebook posts and for raising their voices against racism and calling for accountability,sa国际传媒� Heiltsuk Nation elected Chief Marilyn Slett said Thursday in an emailed release.

The Nation says the officer will be leaving the community this weekend, sa国际传媒渁nd from now until his departure, will not be working another shift in Bella Bella.sa国际传媒� RCMP shared the news with Heiltsuk joint leadership on Wednesday, the Nation says.

RCMP said the member was scheduled to be transferred shortly, as per his posting agreement sa国际传媒渁nd their status is being continually assessed.sa国际传媒� But a statement adds that RCMP is sa国际传媒渕indfulsa国际传媒� that the movement or loss of a single officer in the community sa国际传媒渨ill impact public safety response, service delivery and officer safety requirements.sa国际传媒�

Slett told Black Press Media said the joint leadership was relieved to hear the news, as there was a concern in the community that he would be on shift. They were also initially told his transfer could take up to 90 days.

Asked if she has concerns about what comes next and if there would be proper vetting of whoever comes to the community, Slett said definitely.

sa国际传媒淲e have participated in some of these sergeants interviews for placements within our community. The problem there, too, is they havensa国际传媒檛 been consistent in terms of our participation. Certainly now looking at this constable that was placed here in our community, our leadership has raised the concerns around what is the vetting process, why werensa国际传媒檛 these posts identified and looked at during his vetting process of becoming a member of the RCMP?sa国际传媒�

It comes less than a week after the Heiltsuk shared the posts on the officersa国际传媒檚 personal account, and days after Heiltsuk members protested outside of the RCMP detachment in Bella Bella on May 24.

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Hereditary Chief Hemas Harvey Humchitt said itsa国际传媒檚 unfortunate that the RCMP didnsa国际传媒檛 prevent the officer from serving in Bella Bella in the first place, sa国际传媒渂ut our communitysa国际传媒檚 voice is powerful and effective in pushing for change.sa国际传媒�

The Nation had been calling for the officersa国际传媒檚 immediate suspension and removal after community members discovered a series of racist selfies and captions online.

The social media posts sa国际传媒� shared with media by Heiltsuk Nation sa国际传媒� included one photo of the officer posing in front of the Union Jack in colonial regalia with the comment, sa国际传媒淣ow, whats [sic] to be done about these pesky natives stirring up trouble in the coloniessa国际传媒�?sa国际传媒� Another post included two selfies of him in a black afro with, with his hand raised in a fist, with the captions sa国际传媒淏lack and Proudsa国际传媒� and sa国际传媒渨heresa国际传媒檚 my pick comb?sa国际传媒�

Chief Supt. Brian Edmonds, North District Commander, said in a statement that RCMP was aware of the concerns raised by Heiltsuk Nation, regarding social media posts and comments made between nine and 17 years ago, before the officer joined the RCMP.

Edmonds said once RCMP became aware, it took immediate discussions with the Heiltsuk Nation to address their concerns. RCMP is taking a sa国际传媒渘on-conduct-related administrative processsa国际传媒� as the posts were made prior to the officersa国际传媒檚 employment with the RCMP.

sa国际传媒淲e are committed to finding the right balance between addressing the concerns through a fair process and the importance of individuals/community having trust and confidence in their police officers and the RCMP.sa国际传媒�

Edmonds added RCMP is aware of concerns raised sa国际传媒渨ith respect to an inappropriate anonymous email received by a local leader and can confirm that an investigation is underway as we take the safety of all persons seriously.sa国际传媒�

Slett said the email sa国际传媒� which she called threatening sa国际传媒� was sent to her. She said it accused her of race-baiting and it alleged the community is sa国际传媒渇ull of drunks and wife beaters and sexual assaulters,sa国际传媒� as well as referring to Slett as a derogatory word.

sa国际传媒淭his email was not only frightening, but also indicative of the racist and misogynistic attitudes sa国际传媒� so it was distressing to receive that.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒� With files from Angie Mindus