One month after the Hamilton police placed an officer on suspension amid an investigation into his public endorsement of white nationalist associations, an anti-racism group has revealed that it alerted the police about the officer eight months ago. The Hamilton Police Service (HPS) announced in August that Const. Renato Greco had been suspended due to what they described as “disturbing” content on his social media accounts, including content shared from extremist groups, anti-immigrant sentiments, and expressions of support for a government overthrow dating back five years.
The Hamilton Anti-Racism Resource Centre (HARRC) disclosed that they informed the police in December regarding Greco’s links to the far-right. Lyndon George, HARRC’s director, wrote a letter to Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen detailing community members’ observations of a vehicle displaying a symbol associated with the extremist group Diagolon parked outside the downtown police station. The RCMP has identified Diagolon as an “extremist, militia-like organization.”
Although George was initially unaware of the vehicle’s owner, an investigation later revealed that it belonged to Greco, the same officer under suspension for his social media posts. Hamilton police confirmed that they received the complaint in December and conducted an internal investigation. Despite inquiries about the status and outcomes of the investigation, police spokesperson Jackie Penman stated that the details remain confidential as an employment matter.
CBC Hamilton learned that Greco’s online posts on X and Threads were publicly accessible under his name until his suspension, after which he changed their privacy settings. Following Greco’s suspension, Hamilton police emphasized their commitment to upholding high standards of professionalism and impartiality and denounced any support for hate groups or discriminatory ideologies.
HARRC has called for an independent civilian review into the handling of the initial complaint by the police, citing the escalating number of hate incidents in Hamilton and the presence of white supremacist groups in the city. The organization intends to urge the Hamilton Police Services Board to commission an external investigator with expertise in anti-racism and policing oversight.
The case involving Greco has the potential to establish new standards within the Hamilton Police Service, according to Jen Magnus, a professor specializing in police and public safety at Laurier University. Magnus underscored the importance of officers’ conduct reflecting positively on their profession and fostering trust within communities. Danielle McNabb, a political science professor at Brock University, expressed concerns about an officer with such views responding to incidents involving racialized individuals, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability within police departments.
