Edmonton Police Watch

(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

Re: “Public can trust police: Boyd,” by Police Chief Mike Boyd, Letters, July 13.

I hope that Boyd does take allegations of police misconduct seriously, and that he is concerned about complaints that the Edmonton Police Service is not doing things properly.

However, simply saying that he takes such matters seriously and implying that there need be no such concern, as is the case in his letter, will not satisfy anybody who is knowledgeable about such complaints and aware of the manner in which they are handled.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

EDMONTON – The number of public complaints about police tactics on Whyte Avenue during the NHL playoffs has more than doubled since the Edmonton Oilers last skated off the ice a month ago.

At a police commission meeting June 21 week, police Chief Mike Boyd said 22 complaints about police on the popular bar strip had been reported. Twelve have been resolved with the remainder under investigation.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

The Edmonton Journal has recently published a series of articles and letters about police conduct. There are comments and opinions around independent police complaint investigations and public trust.

I take all allegations of police misconduct very seriously and I am very concerned that these articles infer that the Edmonton Police Service is not doing things properly.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

I am a dirt bag.

I am a bleating sheep.

I have taken the once noble and proud profession of journalism and reduced it to rubble.

Yikes. My in-box hasn’t held this much angry, angry e-mail since the day I suggested it was naive and self-indulgent to send used teddy bears to the victims of hurricane Katrina.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

Re: “Note to officers: catch suspects, don’t punish them,” by Paula Simons, July 11.

If a casual reader only read the first few paragraphs of Simons’ column, they might incorrectly assume that she sincerely supports the “… hard-working, responsible public servants” she has met.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

catch suspects, don’t punish them: Truly independent investigations would help restore public trust

Let me start this column with my standard disclaimer.

Most City of Edmonton police officers are hard-working, responsible public servants who take seriously their duties as our community’s guardians. Day in and day out, they put their lives on the line to protect our streets, our homes, our families. If I hadn’t known that before, the police response to a hostage taking 10 blocks for my house Monday evening was a timely reminder.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

A concerned community is watching, and waiting

Brian Fish was settling into a relaxing night of television when he got an urgent call from his son who was on Whyte Avenue Saturday, June 17 for the post-game hockey celebrations.

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