Edmonton police chief travels to Israel to meet police leaders
Posted March 11, 2026 2:08 pm.
Last Updated March 11, 2026 6:25 pm.
Edmonton’s police chief returned from a trip to Israel in February.
Chief Warren Driechel says his trip was educational, and that he was there to speak with Israeli police and tour the sites.
He says the Edmonton Police Commission approved the trip, and that it was paid for by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). No public tax dollars were used, Driechel says.
The chief spoke to CityNews in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
“Primarily the site visits were police stations, police leaders,” Driechel said. “We never met anyone from the government, anyone from the military or from their intelligence network.”
Of all the places you can go right now, with all the conflicts going on, why go to Israel right now?
“This has been a long-standing trip. This delegation has gone on for a number of years. I don’t think at any time you can anticipate the geopolitics of next week or what’s going to occur. I think when you reflect on North America, you reflect on our communities, there are populations that are represented by the populations of Israel, whether they’re Jewish or Muslim. And I think it’s important as police leaders, when we go to these countries, we understand what’s occurring there and how it’s informing what’s going on in our own cities, in our own country.”
What can Edmonton police learn from police in Israel?
“It’s a long list. I’ll touch back on, I think it’s that focus on your community, ensuring you have that connection with your community. My big takeaway was that what they’re learning, and what they’re working on. How do they build that connection to all of their community, including the Muslim people that live within Israel. So for me, the takeaway is community connection. Maintaining and building trust within your community is important, and that’s something they’re working on very hard there right now.
“I think also as a police leader, for me, it’s maintain that vigilance, understand the risks and threats that exist within your city. I reflect on what occurred in Toronto over the last couple days, right? So these things are being driven by things overseas. And for me, again, as a police leader, as a leader within Edmonton, is understand that kind of historical, geopolitical context, and how that maybe shapes things that go on in our own community.”
