Collecting police paraphernalia is a common practice around the world, and here in Canada there are dozens of Facebook groups where collectors can buy, sell and trade items.

William Roy lives in Edmonton and has been a member of several groups since he started collecting police patches nearly a decade ago, and has since expanded his collection to include other items with the hopes of creating an international policing museum.

“It would be bringing history of law enforcement from around the world all into one location, something to leave for people to enjoy for generations to come,” said Roy.

But in recent years Roy says he’s had concerns over some of the activity taking place in online collection groups.

“My bigger concerns were some of the more current RCMP patrol uniforms being disposed of on Facebook and the recklessness of how these things are being distributed.”

Roy says there’s everything from RCMP jackets, to badges, to bullet proof vests.

“It’s a public safety issue,” said Roy.

Criminologist at Simon Fraser University in BC,  Dr. Rylan Simpson studies the perception of police and says people rely on visual cues like marked vehicles and uniforms to help identify police.

That’s why Roy is calling for further restrictions. While he says that many collectors are legitimate, he worries that items are too easily accessible, and says there is no reason people need to collect current uniform items.

He would like to see police crack down on the buying and selling of police gear, and if it ultimately means he would have to stop collecting items himself, he said that’s something he’s okay with.

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