‘We must do better’: EPS apologizes for situation with homeless people in LRT station
Posted February 17, 2021 12:40 pm.
Last Updated February 17, 2021 12:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON – A few days after a video of Edmonton police forcing homeless people out of an LRT station and into the bitter cold caught attention online, the police service says it should have handled the situation differently and “must do better.”
Over the long weekend, Indigenous activist group the Bear Clan was feeding homeless people at a transit station when police kicked them out. Video of the incident got a lot of attention.
Police said the group and the homeless people were loitering and breaking mask laws by taking them off to eat.
The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) says its acting chief, Alan Murphy, and its CAO, Enyinnah Okere, met with the Community and Public Services Committee Wednesday morning to discuss the situation that unfolded.
“We should have arranged transportation or helped in accessing the services our partnering agencies have in place to keep our most vulnerable safe and warm,” reads a statement from the EPS.
“We must do better, and for this we are sorry.”
The statement goes on to say that a public complaint was made and the Professional Standards Branch opened an investigation. In the interim, the EPS says it will use this time to reflect and review the force’s processes and actions.
“We will be working with our City of Edmonton colleagues to ensure there is a clear understanding of the extreme weather protocols and our mutual responsibilities.”
The department also says it has met with various other community members to discuss the impact of the actions taken over the weekend and is committed to delivering services with compassion and empathy.
