Province to launch inquiry into Edmonton police commission citing 'alleged dysfunction'
CBC
The appointment of a new chair and vice-chair for the Edmonton police commission was overshadowed Thursday after the provincial government committed to an inquiry after a request by Edmonton Police Service into two police commission appointments.
The request was soon followed by the resignation of a commissioner on the same day.
"Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee has provided me with a formal application by the Edmonton Police Service, with respect to the increasingly dysfunctional relationship between the City of Edmonton council, the Edmonton police commission, and Edmonton Police Service," said Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis said in a statement to CBC.
"This ongoing dysfunction is negatively impacting public safety, public trust and the ability to deliver adequate and effective policing, putting public safety in Edmonton at risk."
Disagreements between any police service, commission, policing committee, or council relating to policing services may be referred to the minister, Ellis noted in his statement.
"Under Section 30 [of the Police Act], I intend to launch an inquiry into this alleged dysfunction. I understand the two positions being contested have agreed that it would be appropriate to step away while a investigation was being held," Ellis said.
"I agree, and therefore during the inquiry, the two positions that are being contested will be put on hold until the inquiry is completed, and all matters are considered."
Earlier Thursday, the Edmonton police commission announced Ben Henderson, a former city councillor, as the new chair.
Shazia Amiri, who has experience working with various non-profits and provincial ministries, was appointed as vice chair.
The announcement soon followed an investigation request by EPS, directed to the province, into the appointment of two commission members: Renee Vaugeois and Dan Jones.
Dan Jones was previously a member of EPS for 25 years and is the chair of justice studies at NorQuest College.
Renée Vaugeois is the executive director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights.
"EPS is concerned about the erosion of the governance relationship between city council and the EPC, which serves a vital role as the guardian of public trust providing civilian governance and oversight of the service," a news release from EPS said on Thursday.
"Due to the operation of privacy legislation, EPS can identify only the names of these public officials and not the nature of the concerns, which generally relate to public-facing activities undertaken by the two appointees in either private or professional capacities."
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