Edmonton Police Commissioner resigns amid province launching inquiry to appointments

A wave of news coming from the Edmonton Police Commission and police headquarters.

Thursday afternoon, Edmonton police asked Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis to investigate the appointment of two members to the Edmonton Police Commission by city council last month.

Dan Jones, a criminologist and former police detective. And Renée Vaugeois, an executive director of a human rights organization.

EPS did not say exactly what its concerns are with the two. But did say it generally relates to public-facing activities both privately and publicly.

Police claim a specific section of the Police Act allows them to ask Ellis about the appointment of commissioners. That section deals with disagreements about the delivery or maintenance of police services.

However, Tom Engel argues that appointing commissioners does not meet those criteria.

“They’re scrambling around looking for something in the act that they could try and stretch the interpretation so that the minister will do something. They’re desperate,” said Tom Engel, Lawyer.

While CityNews was talking to Engel, Jones announced he was resigning from the commission saying, “By joining the Edmonton Police Commission, my goal was to be able to serve our community in a different way.

“I had not anticipated that providing this service to my fellow Edmontonians would cause such consternation and concern arising from any real or perceived conflict of interest which may or may not be determined,” Jones continued.

“Not wanting to have my term as a commissioner clouded or overshadowed by these concerns for the next two years, I believe the community would be best served by my resignation from the Commission.”

Engel gave his live reaction saying, “The citizens of Edmonton should be outraged. Because it’s obviously the result of this. That’s really sad. It’s a dark day for oversight of the Edmonton Police Service.”

Minister Ellis says in a statement he will launch an inquiry into the alleged dysfunction saying, “The allegations contained in this complaint are neither minor nor frivolous, and choosing to launch an inquiry is not done lightly. The risks of erosion of public trust are too high.”

Meantime Mayor Amarjeet Sohi tells CityNews in a statement commissioners are appointed through a robust, open process that includes criminal record checks and security clearances.

Sohi says he is “disappointed that the concerns raised by EPS were raised with the Minister prior to them being directly with the city council. This approach may deter members of the public from serving on the Edmonton Police Commission in future, and may erode trust in the Commission…”

Engel believes police chief Dale McFee should move up his resignation to now instead of February 21st.

“This just makes it even more obvious that the Edmonton Police Commission better hire a chief from outside the Edmonton Police Service.”