Edmonton police chief acknowledges more work needed to combat crime downtown

Edmonton’s police chief spoke with landlords and property owners Tuesday about crime and safety in the city’s downtown.

Chief Dale McFee told the Building Owners and Managers Association it’s about striking a balance between justice and helping vulnerable Edmontonians.

“We built help teams, we built pack teams, they’re getting phenomenal results,” he said. “We’ve got partnerships in many different areas. But we still have a crime part of this that’s a different approach, and there needs to be some accountability.”

McFee told those in attendance he hears concerns about downtown crime from business owners and those who live and work in the area.

The police chief touted the success of police partnerships with social agencies to help those who need it, but stressed more needs to be done to combat crime.

“It’s not just OK to have open-air drug use in front of the mall doors,” said McFee. “And it doesn’t mean they go to jail. I’ll be the first to say I don’t think that’s a solution. But how do we get that individual to a mechanism to get them what they need at that point in time?”

Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee speaking to the Building Owners and Managers Association on Feb. 21, 2023. (Credit: CityNews/Darcy Ropchan)

Drug use and security in Edmonton’s LRT stations was raised by the business owners downtown.

The chief told reporters the Edmonton Police Service is working with the city to better integrate communication between peace officers, security and EPS.

“You talk radio systems, you talk dispatch, you talk all these things, you talk authorities – none of these are the same,” said McFee. “And when you have that, it usually provides that you make an extra call, an extra two calls, get a hold of somebody. Eventually we’re there with the authorities if it’s serious enough. But it’s something that takes time to build.”