Photo: RCMP

Some may say it will now be harder to tell the cops from the robbers.

The RCMP is following public health advice by providing front-line employees with non-medical masks.

Front-line police officers can use these masks while on duty in situations where personal protective equipment is not required but where physical distancing may be difficult or unpredictable.

RCMP Commanding Officers will determine their requirements based on the direction of their local health authority and will distribute masks accordingly. 

In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, the RCMP says it is taking these additional steps so that public can feel comfortable in engaging with police officers in their community.

"Some people may be uncomfortable with a police officer approaching them with a mask on, and we want to make sure that the people in the communities we serve know they can ask to see police identification, if it is safe to do so," the force says.

"For this reason, RCMP officers will be carrying one, or all, of the following with them: RCMP badge RCMP photo identification RCMP name tag on their uniform RCMP business cards with detachment phone numbers to verify their identity. In most situations, the RCMP officer you are interacting with will be able to provide you with identification or information to verify that they are an RCMP officer."