Edmonton Police Watch

(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

Natasha Laurence’s letter focused on the fact that in her words “the Edmonton Police Association … is strongly opposed to the independent investigation of officer misconduct.”

Although I am a member of the EPA, I do not write this letter on behalf of the EPA. I am not opposed to independent civilian oversight and that is why we have a police commission.

The main reason why I felt Ignasiak needed to step down from the commission was simply this: Time and time again Ignasiak and other members of the commission damaged the EPS by publicly criticizing the service without knowing all of the facts.

If they had refrained from speaking to the media before learning all of the facts, their opinions and comments would very likely have changed. Ignasiak’s desire to satisfy the media’s demand for controversy and a “good quote” often came at the expense of front- line members who take pride in the work they do.

With Ignasiak gone, I hope the commission, the EPS and EPA can now get on to sorting out our differences and working together for the good of the community.

Chris Begg, Edmonton

CANADIAN PRESS

By DARCY HENTON

EDMONTON (CP) - Police could have considered a middle-ground tactic before breaking into the residence of an armed and angry man to make an arrest, says a fatality inquiry judge.

The observation comes from provincial court Judge David J. Tilley, who declined to make any recommendations following his inquiry into the fatal police shooting of John Peter Pavic on May 15, 2001.

“It would seem rational for police in a scene involving a person locked in a building and refusing to come out . . . to consider some sort of middle ground . . . without moving directly to the break-enter scenario,” he wrote in his nine-page inquiry report released Tuesday.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

The Journal’s editorial “Commission needs more change, March 23″ is definitely a reasonable and positive approach to the changes necessary in policing in Edmonton.

Unfortunately it is also laced with some potentially destructive denial.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

Martin Ignasiak’s departure from the Edmonton Police Commission creates an opportunity for a fresh start in relations between the police, the commission and this community. But his decision is not the only thing that needs to happen to rebuild public confidence following revelations that police targeted Ignasiak and a newspaper columnist in a stakeout at the Overtime bar last November.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

Two officers face discreditable conduct charges in incident

EDMONTON - Two disciplinary hearings stemming from the controversial Overtime drunk-driving stakeout probably won’t begin before April at the earliest, Edmonton police say.

A second investigation into alleged misconduct by Edmonton police officers won’t be completed until at least September.

RCMP investigators are expected to tell an Edmonton Police Commission meeting today they need at least another six months to complete their work on allegations that several officers accepted inducements from a photo-radar company.

The Overtime hearings will deal with Staff Sgt. William Newton and Insp. Bryan Boulanger.

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EDMONTON JOURNAL

EDMONTON — Officers fatally shot a man after he refused to drop a “machete-like” knife he was wielding, say police officials.

The man, identified by a relative as Daniel Lippa, died in hospital Friday night, a few hours after a confrontation outside an apartment building.

“It happens very, very quickly,” said Chris McLeod of the Edmonton Police Service. “The man comes at them with a knife, raised up . . . making threats to the officers as he’s nearing them. The officers are yelling at him to drop his knife, to stop. He doesn’t. They quickly draw their weapons and fire.”

A total of seven shots were fired: five by one officer and two by another. “Both officers believed that their lives were genuinely in danger,” said McLeod, adding that a civilian who was on a ride-along confirmed the sequence of events.

However, members of Lippa’s family questioned the actions of police. “What the police are saying about him attacking people or being violent or suicidal is a bunch of crap,” said the slain man’s father, Ernie Lippa, who is demanding a review of events leading up to the shooting.

Police had been called to the building by a neighbour who said a woman and her son were being threatened by the woman’s ex-husband. The man was also reportedly making threats to harm himself, McLeod said.