Cody ShimizuIt’s generally expected that adults can be mature and reasonable when faced with difficult issues. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, evidenced by certain recent actions of the Edmonton Police Commission (EPC). The recent choices made by EPC haven’t only failed to reflect the interests of Edmontonians — they have also been taking a step away from accountability.
The EPC oversees the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and represents Edmontonians while being accountable to city council. But over the summer, EPC has seemed to balk at any attempts to hold EPS accountable. Not only is it concerning to see accountability under threat, it also distracts from actually solving any problems with EPS. EPC’s focus should be on improving policing in our city, not shielding EPS from accountability.
First, it was city council’s request for the EPC to release the 2024 EPS audit and service review plan. Considering that EPS receives a significant amount of municipal tax dollars — it is council’s single largest budget item — releasing the audit plan seems only reasonable. But EPC refused. Not only is it important to make sure EPS is putting those dollars to good use, it’s also important to be accountable to the public. Which is the entire point of having the EPC in the first place.
And then EPC simply didn’t show up to further meetings to discuss the need for an audit. I can’t help but wonder, if EPC considers showing up to meetings as optional, what else is? That seems like the simplest part of the job.
Now, EPC is seeking to remove the two positions held by city councillors on the commission. EPC is arguing that councillors have too much sway on the commission. Although city council appoints members to EPC, councillors are the only members that the public actually elects. With that comes the weight of the public’s interests. EPC shouldn’t seek to eliminate or ignore that, rather it should welcome those voices. City council has delayed the final decision on removing those positions, but it likely will be revisited.
Beyond EPC’s behaviour being disappointing and frustrating, it constantly distracts from the issues Edmontonains care about. It will be extremely difficult for there to be any improvements in public trust and relations with EPS as long as EPC is fighting accountability.
As of August 14, three people have died in shootings with EPS since late June. The public has repeated the same concerns about EPS officers’ use of force, whether lethal or non-lethal. Just a few months ago community members raised concerns after EPS was called to clear a Palestine solidarity encampment on the University of Alberta’s Main Quad. People have very real concerns about the violence our community encounters from EPS.
People shouldn’t equate police with violence, but they inevitably do when encounters with police result in violence. And EPC’s focus should be on addressing the public’s concerns about the use of force. Simply releasing a report on use of force isn’t enough.
There needs to be actual work towards reducing violence at the hands of police. The recent addition of body-worn cameras is not enough. But even that didn’t come solely from a desire to increase accountability. The introduction of body cameras to EPS only came after the Government of Alberta began requiring police officers to wear them.
EPC needs to remember that its role is to hold EPS accountable to the public. One summer of battles over accountability is enough. EPC needs to put the focus back on solving problems within EPS and making the city safer for Edmontontains. Releasing the audit plan for EPS and withdrawing the request to remove councillors from EPC would be a start. But it needs to go far beyond that.
