Edmonton Police Watch

EDMONTON JOURNAL

Knocked down, hauled away while
taking photos of celebrations

MIKE S A DAVA

Exactly a year has elapsed since 67-year-old Brian Fish was knocked down by police, possibly Tasered and then arrested and hauled off for taking pictures of police tactics during the Stanley Cup celebrations on Whyte Avenue.

But little has happened to give him any sense of closure about the incident.

Fish, who filed a complaint to police, is still waiting to hear from the Calgary Crown prosecutor’s office whether charges will be filed against the two female constables he alleges manhandled him as crowds assembled on Whyte Avenue following the Oilers’ victory in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals.

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EDMONTON SUN

Original 

An Edmonton lawyer is upset that a Calgary prosecutor did not counter the good character evidence presented at a sentencing for a city cop who used a stun gun on a jaywalker.

Tom Engel charged the prosecutor knew about Const. Aubrey Zalaski having been earlier admonished by the Law Enforcement Review Board for using excessive force in hitting a 17-year-old girl during a Whyte Avenue scuffle.

Yet, he did not tell the sentencing judge about it after Zalaski’s defence lawyer told the court Zalaski was a “rising star” with the city police who had never had any problems as a beat cop both downtown and on Whyte Avenue.

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EDMONTON SUN

Original

An Edmonton police officer convicted of zapping a jaywalker with his Taser will likely keep his badge - he just has to take some anger management counselling first.

Const. Aubrey Zalaski, 34, was handed a conditional discharge yesterday in provincial court on his April 27 conviction for assault with a weapon.

Judge Brian Fraser said he found it was not contrary to the public interest to give Zalaski a discharge, but ruled it had to be a conditional one with the 12-year veteran having to complete a one-year probation order.

The terms of the order include Zalaski having to take any treatment directed, specifically for anger management or any psychological or psychiatric issues found.

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EDMONTON JOURNAL

Original

EDMONTON - An Edmonton police officer convicted of using unnecessary and gratuitous force when he Tasered a man for jaywalking received a conditional discharge today.

Const. Aubrey Zalaski, 34, must report to a parole officer for one year and give $1,000 to charity in an effort to restore public trust in the Edmonton Police Service, provincial court Judge Brian Fraser ruled.

Fraser also ordered Zalaski to take an anger management course and provide a DNA sample to the national databank. Fraser did not order a firearms prohibition, which means Zalaski may be able to continue his career as a police officer.

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EDMONTON SUN

Original 

Several charges were tossed yesterday against two high-ranking Edmonton police officers accused of taking bribes in an alleged photo radar scandal.

This happened as a provincial court preliminary hearing for Staff Sgt. Kerry Nisbet, 51, and Det. Thomas Bell, 49, wrapped up following closing arguments.

The judge who heard the case says she will give her decision in the fall as to whether the two officers will be committed to stand trial on the remaining charges.

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EDMONTON SUN

Original

Several charges were tossed Thursday against two high-ranking Edmonton police officers accused of taking bribes in an alleged photo radar scandal.

This happened as a provincial court preliminary hearing for Staff Sgt. Kerry Nisbet, 51, and Det. Thomas Bell, 49, wrapped up following closing arguments.

The judge who heard the case says she will give her decision in the fall as to whether the two officers will be committed to stand trial on the remaining charges.

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630CHED

Original

Two Edmonton Police Service officers may find out Thursday afternoon if they will stand trial on charges of accepting bribes.

A preliminary hearing is wrapping up, with final arguments Thursday morning from the crown and the two defence lawyers. The allegation is that Tom Bell and Kerry Nisbet accepted bribes from an American company that wanted to land a photo-radar contract with the city. The RCMP investigated, and charges were laid.

And the matter of three city police-officers charged with assault came up in the courthouse this morning. Detective Terry Briscoe, Staff-Sergeant Giovanni Fiorilli and Staff-Sergeant Jamie Ewatski are scheduled to return to court on June 28th.

EDMONTON JOURNAL

Massive arrests June 10 and 17 a sign of no-nonsense policing, rowdier behaviour

TRISH AUDETTE

87 — Percentage of those arrested who were men — 165 on June 10 and 323 on June 17.

58 — The oldest man taken into custody, on June 17.

47 — The oldest woman taken into custody, on June 10.

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EDMONTON JOURNAL

For Edmonton and the country, the story of the Stanley Cup playoffs became how police handled the city’s hockey fans — or its hooligans.

“It’s never usually a win-win for us,” says police Insp. Darren Eastcott.

“We had to be able to maintain the peace and order on the avenue, and that meant significant arrests. I don’t think I will ever apologize for that, nor should the police.”

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EDMONTON JOURNAL

Original

On June 10, 2006, the Edmonton Oilers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 at Rexall Place, the first Oilers win in three games during the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

That night, Edmonton police made 198 arrests, mostly on Whyte Avenue and Jasper Avenue. Seven people were charged.

The following timeline is drawn from police officers’ notes on mass arrest field reports for 192 Whyte Avenue revellers taken into custody that night:

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