Neufeld said members were “outraged” by the order, which called for the patches to be removed by April 1, as they should be replaced with a symbol that “better reflects Calgarians’ values”.
“Whenever you feel compelled to do so, a defensive reaction is not surprising, especially for issues that go exactly to the level of your values ​​and right to the heart of your identity,” Neufeld told reporters on Tuesday.  afternoon.
The commission had earlier said that the decision to ban the symbol was made for a variety of reasons, including its controversial history of “division, colonialism and racism”, and acknowledged that some officers wore patches to “honor the dead”.
Officers and family members wear the patch “to honor the fallen” and express support for those who serve, “however, the thin blue line also has a controversial history rooted in division, colonialism and racism, the most recent he appeared in a prominent position in protests against the Black Lives Matter movement, “the commission said in a statement announcing the order last week.
Neufeld was out of town for business when the order was announced March 30.
“So, to some extent, I was relegated to monitoring and managing the announcement of a very important issue remotely,” he said, adding that he spoke to “all key stakeholders” over the weekend after returning to Calgary.
“This is a very complicated situation, like most things, much more complicated than it seemed on the surface,” he said.  “And I do not need to tell anyone that complicated things have become even more complicated during the pandemic.”
Neufeld acknowledged that morale at CPS was “at an all-time low” due to low staffing levels and increased workload.
“Removing patches from uniforms is one thing, but the complete discrediting of the symbol and its significance to our people, which has been communicated, is very different. I think we saw the reference as the ‘thin blue line’ to a well-known “Hate symbol, with a history of hate speech and hateful acts. These comments were incendiary.”
The commission issued a statement following Neufeld’s availability on Tuesday.
“We know Calgary police officers wear this symbol to express positive things, but we insist on ensuring that none of Calgary will be approached by a police officer displaying a symbol associated with other very divisive and “Racist movements today and in the past,” said committee chairman Shawn Cornett.
“It was never a question of whether the police wore the symbol with good intentions, it was a decision made because the meaning of the symbol is mixed and it lands differently on a significant number of people in our city.”
Calgary Police Chief Mark Neufeld at the center speaks to reporters along with Deputy Chief Raj Gill, left, and Deputy Chief of Staff Chad Tawfik. 
The timetable for implementing the decision was also “unrealistic given the size and nature of our service,” Neufeld said, noting the number of irregular hours and patterned shifts worked by CPS officers and staff.
The commission’s mandate also did not take into account the reaction from unions representing officers and other officials, Neufeld said.
“I am sure you will agree that this has significantly complicated the implementation plans of this particular policy decision,” he said.
“As for the response we have seen from our unions, I would describe it as excellent.  The leaders of our unions and their executive boards are not anti-managers and they are not types of disruptors, predisposed to such actions, in fact.  “I would say it’s anything but that.”
Calgary Police Association President John Orr said earlier that a “significant” number of police officers were wearing the patch and it was unclear what the consequences would be if they continued to do so.
The thin blue line has been around for “a very, very long time in police culture,” Neufeld said.
“Not just here in Calgary, but worldwide,” he said.
“For members of the Calgary Police Department, the ‘thin blue line’ symbolizes honor for the dead, service to our community and support for one another.”
Since 1917, 12 Calgary police officers have been killed on duty.
Neufeld also reported Sgt’s death.  Andrew Harnett on New Year’s Eve 2021.
“So you can understand how important we value the fallen aspect of the ‘thin blue line’ symbol,” he said.
The issue has also highlighted a lack of trust between CPS and CPC members, Neufeld said.
Speaking to stakeholders, Neufeld said, he showed that there is “a strong desire to come to the table and meet to discuss issues that have been raised.”
“And if we can do that, I think the patches will come out of the uniforms voluntarily,” he said.
“What you are seeing is an existing conflict that has not been resolved and has boiled over.”
The direction has not changed, but the commission said it understands the timetable would be difficult to meet.
“This is an important issue, but it’s far from the only major issue of policing in our city. “They have to deal with it,” Cornet said.
“However, police surveillance is a fundamental principle in modern democracies, and we need to address the fact that senior officers and police associations encourage officers to disregard a lawful directive from their supervisory body if it continues.”
Cornett also referred to the tension between the police and the committee overseeing the service.
“The police play a critical role in our community and the members of the Calgary Police Department are doing an excellent job of protecting the people of Calgary,” he said. 
“The working relationship between the committee and the members of the service must be strong if we are to maintain the high level of policing that we enjoyed in our community and improve it even more. We will definitely address the concerns expressed by the officers during the recent discussions on the “thin blue line”.
The Calgary Police Commission consists of 10 community members and two councilors, who provide oversight of the CPS.