Edmonton Police Watch

(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

EDMONTON – Police officers disputed drug evidence submitted on Wednesday to a Law Enforcement Review Board appeal hearing into alleged police misconduct.

Four police officers involved in a 1999 drug raid at a city residence were called to help the board decide whether evidence introduced by lawyer Tom Engel will be admissible in the hearing.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

EDMONTON – A self-described “beat-up artist” working as hired muscle for a drug dealer, testified on Tuesday at a Law Enforcement Review Board appeal hearing concerning alleged police misconduct during a 1999 drug raid at a city residence.

Phillip John Malott, nicknamed Bigham, was the first witness to take the stand at the hearing into whether police planted and then discovered a piece of crack cocaine on a ledge above a door when they raided two residences on the evening of Feb. 25, 1999.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Copyright The North Bay Nugget 2005)

EDMONTON (CP) — A senior Edmonton police officer says he was justified when he had a journalist’s name run through a police computer because the reporter had written a column that criticized the traffic section he commanded.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Copyright The North Bay Nugget 2005)

EDMONTON (CP) — A senior Edmonton police officer targeted a journalist who wrote a column he didn’t like, the officer’s disciplinary hearing was told Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Bill Newton is charged with misconduct. He is accused of improperly singling out Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte for police surveillance.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Copyright Calgary Herald 2005)

A senior Edmonton police officer targeted a journalist who wrote a column he didn’t like, the officer’s disciplinary hearing was told Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Bill Newton is charged with misconduct. He is accused of improperly singling out Edmonton Sun columnist Kerry Diotte for police surveillance.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2005)

Four years ago, Edmonton council took some wise and significant steps to improve civilian oversight of the city’s police force.

Two councillors were put back on the police commission to strengthen the city’s presence. And when appointing new commissioners, council discussed the need to reinforce community policing and an ethic of police accountability to the citizens they serve.

But today, that commendable initiative is unravelling in very troubling circumstances.

Read the rest of this entry »