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.

害羞草研究所淲e want to thank our community for reporting the racist Facebook posts and for raising their voices against racism and calling for accountability,害羞草研究所� Heiltsuk Nation elected Chief Marilyn Slett said Thursday in an emailed release.

The Nation says the officer will be leaving the community this weekend, 害羞草研究所渁nd from now until his departure, will not be working another shift in Bella Bella.害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渁nd their status is being continually assessed.害羞草研究所� But a statement adds that RCMP is 害羞草研究所渕indful害羞草研究所� that the movement or loss of a single officer in the community 害羞草研究所渨ill impact public safety response, service delivery and officer safety requirements.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淲e have participated in some of these sergeants interviews for placements within our community. The problem there, too, is they haven害羞草研究所檛 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 weren害羞草研究所檛 these posts identified and looked at during his vetting process of becoming a member of the RCMP?害羞草研究所�

It comes less than a week after the Heiltsuk shared the posts on the officer害羞草研究所檚 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 it害羞草研究所檚 unfortunate that the RCMP didn害羞草研究所檛 prevent the officer from serving in Bella Bella in the first place, 害羞草研究所渂ut our community害羞草研究所檚 voice is powerful and effective in pushing for change.害羞草研究所�

The Nation had been calling for the officer害羞草研究所檚 immediate suspension and removal after community members discovered a series of racist selfies and captions online.

The social media posts 害羞草研究所� shared with media by Heiltsuk Nation 害羞草研究所� included one photo of the officer posing in front of the Union Jack in colonial regalia with the comment, 害羞草研究所淣ow, whats [sic] to be done about these pesky natives stirring up trouble in the colonies害羞草研究所�?害羞草研究所� Another post included two selfies of him in a black afro with, with his hand raised in a fist, with the captions 害羞草研究所淏lack and Proud害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渨here害羞草研究所檚 my pick comb?害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渘on-conduct-related administrative process害羞草研究所� as the posts were made prior to the officer害羞草研究所檚 employment with the RCMP.

害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�

Edmonds added RCMP is aware of concerns raised 害羞草研究所渨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.害羞草研究所�

Slett said the email 害羞草研究所� which she called threatening 害羞草研究所� was sent to her. She said it accused her of race-baiting and it alleged the community is 害羞草研究所渇ull of drunks and wife beaters and sexual assaulters,害羞草研究所� as well as referring to Slett as a derogatory word.

害羞草研究所淭his email was not only frightening, but also indicative of the racist and misogynistic attitudes 害羞草研究所� so it was distressing to receive that.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所� With files from Angie Mindus