In the video, the protester who is handed the coffee says that police were preventing more protesters from joining the demonstration on the overpass, but agreed to carry over the refreshments which had been bought for them.

“The coffee was bought for us, but police won’t let them in. So the police are now becoming our little messengers between us,” he said.

Images of the officers handing the protesters coffee sparked outrage online.

“Here’s an idea. How about not delivering coffeeto protesters who are disrupting traffic and blocking a bridge?,” one person said on X.

The overpass is located in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood, and area residents have said they feel the protests are aimed, in part, at intimidating them.

In a statement issued later, Chief Myron Demkiw didn’t specifically reference the coffee, but said “questions have been raised” about one particular interaction between officers and a protester on the bridge.

“Whatever the intent, the impact has been to cause concern and confusion, and for that, I am sorry,” the chief said. “I immediately convened Command meetings and ordered a thorough review of the day’s events and to ensure that the most effective operational planning and responses are in place.”

The chief added: “Let me be clear and unequivocal: our commitment to keeping our city’s Jewish community safe is unwavering. We are doing everything we can in the locations that have been targeted for demonstration to uphold and enforce the law.”