Premier Smith admits comment about officers’ funerals was premature
Posted March 18, 2023 4:34 pm.
Last Updated March 18, 2023 4:36 pm.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has admitted comments she made Saturday about the funerals for two Edmonton police officers shot and killed in the line of duty this week were premature.
Smith addressed the deaths of Const. Brett Ryan and Const. Travis Jordan during her weekly provincewide radio program.
The Alberta premier told listeners “my understanding is there will be a regimental funeral on March 26 to honour the two of them and their service to Alberta.”
Premier Smith offering a clarification regarding her sharing the date for the fallen officers funeral.
She says those details are still being worked out and will be provided later on by EPS. pic.twitter.com/eQ3kwQ4DGA
— Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) March 18, 2023
Smith later offered a clarification regarding her sharing the date of the funeral.
“This morning I shared information on the regimental funerals for Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan,” she tweeted. “The details of the funerals are not fully confirmed and finalized at the moment.
“I would ask that the public wait for the @edmontonpolice to provide the date and full details when they become available.”
https://twitter.com/KerryShima_RCMP/status/1637181033799090176
Smith was met with some criticism for the announcement.
Edmonton-based RCMP officer Sherry Shima suggested Smith was politicizing the constables’ deaths.
“This was an inappropriate announcement at best,” Shima tweeted. “It’s disrespectful to the families and the Edmonton Police Service members. The officers’ deaths are not a political soapbox.”
Smith also revealed on the radio program Ryan and Jordan’s families will each to receive $100,000 from the province’s Heroes’ Fund.
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