(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)
Whyte Avenue police doesn’t deserve ‘bravo’ from law-abiding citizens
Eighteen years ago, we decided to move our young family to Edmonton from Montreal. We wanted to get away from all the political garbage that is stilling going on there. We wanted our children to have a future. We chose Alberta. It was a good move, as this city was a beauty in every way. It had that small town feeling with a kinder, gentler lifestyle. Eighteen years later, I am appalled with the way this city is heading. Police State comes to my mind. Abuse of Authority comes to mind.
Two Saturdays ago, people came together on Whyte Avenue to celebrate their team’s victory.
My son was one of Edmonton’s happy and proud citizens. Although he rents an apartment just one avenue off Whyte, this was the first and only time he joined in on an Oilers celebration on Whyte. He had a few friends over to watch the game. They had a responsible amount of alcohol, and no one was drunk. After the third period was over, they decided to go and join the party on Whyte.
Everyone was high-fiving each other and everything was good until my son went to speak to an Edmonton police officer. He gently put his elbow on an officer’s shoulder to have a friendly chat with him. My son does not remember anything after that. One witness told me that after an officer threw my son to the ground, another six or seven subsequently jumped him. He does not know how long he was unconscious.
Brian Fish, an Edmonton lawyer and his wife were there at the scene. Mr. Fish was Tasered three times for taking pictures of my son’s brutal assault by the EPS. My son has a large bruised lump on his forehead and may have suffered a concussion. His eye is black and blue. When he finally came to, they told him he had been arrested for assaulting an officer. Who assaulted whom?
He spent the night in jail, frightened, and was not permitted any medical attention even though he asked for help.
Why was it so necessary for the Edmonton police officers to brutalize him? I know they have been working an awful lot of overtime . They must be tired, but that does not give them the right to injure and arrest innocent people.
As a parent (who is proud of her two hard working adult children) and a good citizen of this city who taught her children to show respect to police officers, I have zero tolerance for the way the EPS handled the situation on Saturday night. I have zero tolerance for all those screaming ‘bravo’ for a job well done by the EPS. It was the EPS that was out of control, not the crowd.
This old town, she ain’t what she used to be.
Linda Wade, Edmonton
Entries (RSS)