The Hell's Angels had been in the area over the weekend for a national gathering. Ottawa police would announce there were "no incidents" involving the famed motorcycle club. But the next morning, July 24, 2016, would see an incident that would rock the capital to this day. It was a typical dead-of-summer day, 28 degrees Celsius. Mix of sun and cloud, a mild breeze. Police arrived to answer a disturbance call at a Hintonburg coffee shop around 9:30 a.m. A pursuit of the fleeing suspect, Abdirahman Abdi, would leave him dead. And both Const. Daniel Montsion, one of the responding officers, and the Ottawa Police held under fire and tainted maybe for decades. And now, a disgraceful action this week by the Ottawa Police Association could tarnish the union itself, perhaps for just as long.

Const. Daniel Montsion, second from right, kneeling over Abdirahman Abdi. (Photo: Radio-Canada.ca) As reported this past week, officers of the nation have begun wearing and distributing bracelets in support of Montsion, one of the responding officers charged earlier this month with manslaughter after an SUI investigation. Inscribed are: "United we stand, Together we fall," as well as the badge number of the accused. And per the CBC, they are quite popular among members. They've sold 1,200 via their private Facebook group. Ottawa Police Association president Matt Skof is quoted saying that the $2 band is "just about expressing their support for a colleague. It's a very difficult environment that we're in, in policing." That's understandable. Being an officer is dangerous and stressful work. And, across the U.S., stories of police brutality show up almost weekly on the news. Even in cities like Toronto and Montreal, stories involving brutality or corruption aren't earth-shattering. And they rub off on all other forces, whether they have their own incidents or not. But when they do, they become the story.

@OttawaPolice You r under obligation 2 serve and protect the ppl not act as jury. Remove wristbands. Divisive & undermining. @Eli_ElChantirypic.twitter.com/BNxvJZwxcd -- SArmstrong (@hotelbaudin) March 29, 2017

No longer can you say "Oh well, that only happens here or there." Ottawa Police have had a comparatively low amount of "issues" until last year. The death of Abdi spread across the world as another example of cops going too far and using excessive force. No matter if Montsion is convicted or not, this will be "that moment" for the city. It's understandable if other officers feel lumped in with the ones who answered that July call. It makes everyone look bad. We all say that one does not equal all, but once things like this happen, no matter the result, it's hard to forget. It's also understandable if they feel as though Montsion is not the only one on trial and they need to stick together. I get why they want to show support for their co-worker, because if not him, then who next? There could be an even split across the force as to whether or not he is guilty. Maybe officers feel pressured to purchase one in a "you're either with us or against us" kind of way. Maybe they all do wish him luck. We know from history that places like police stations can be very fraternal.