Edmonton cop pushing woman reignites bodycam debate
Posted September 20, 2022 6:29 pm.
Last Updated September 20, 2022 8:14 pm.
After a video of a cop pushing a woman onto the ground outside of a homeless shelter was released, some Edmonton councillors raised questions about police accountability and transparency.
“You know, as a human being, as an Edmontonian, I am very alarmed by this,” said Keren Tang, councillor for Ward Karhiio, “And I know the investigation is over, and I think all we want to know is what happened and why.”
BACKGROUND: Edmonton police officer caught on video shoving woman to ground
In a statement Edmonton police said an officer responded to a fight between two women, one of which had a knife, claiming:
“The officer directed the woman to drop the knife, but she refused, expressing her affiliation to a criminal gang, and walked away in an area where bystanders were present. The officer considered his use of force options, given the suspect was armed, and determined pushing her to the ground would require the least amount of force possible to allow him to safely arrest the suspect.”
Councillor Keren Tang says the video could harm the relationship between police and the community.
“When something is released like that in public, it erodes public trust and confidence in our police service,” said Tang.
The leader of the police union wrote on Twitter that he supports police body cams 100 per cent, asking the city to “please provide funding to purchase the cameras, training, for storage/retention of the data for a year, disclosure for the courts, including vetting for privacy laws.”
I 100% body worn cameras. Please provide funding to purchase the cameras, training, for storage/retention of the data for a year, disclosure for the courts, including vetting for privacy laws.A motion at the next council meeting? @YEG_Commission @YEGMayorOffice
— Michael Elliott M.O.M (@AFPAElliott) September 20, 2022
Councillor Michael Janz says Edmonton’s police budget is already big enough to support body cams.
“No one else in Alberta, and almost Canada spends more money on policing than Edmonton,” said Janz, councillor for Ward Papastew.
Janz says the request for bodycam funding is a distraction from what is really needed.
“What we need are better accountability tools – I’d much rather pay for more training, more de-escalation, more civil society services that would help police de-escalate these kinds of situations without using violence,” said Janz.
Councillor and Edmonton Police Commissioner Sarah Hamilton says there is a system of accountability in place.
“Use of force is regulated,” said Hamilton, “It’s regulated through the Alberta policing standards. That is overseen by the Director of Law Enforcement who reports to the Minister of Justice.”
Hamilton says the public watching the video has the benefit of asking for the full story – a benefit the officer did not have on-scene before he decided to act.
“Last Monday we collectively mourned somebody who was the victim of a random knife attack,” said Hamilton, “And by Friday we are questioning the actions of an officer who was intervening in a potential random knife attack.”
EPS tells CityNews that the woman was not charged and was released.
