EdmontonPoliceCommission
The Edmonton Police Commission, a civilian oversight board independent from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), is seeking your valuable input. As the body responsible for hiring the Chief of Police, the Commission is committed to ensuring the next leader reflects the values and priorities of Edmontonians.
This survey is designed to gather your feedback on the desired qualities and attributes you believe are essential for the next Chief of Police. Your participation will directly contribute to shaping the future leadership of the EPS.
Follow this link to the Survey:
Survey Information
This survey will take 5-8 minutes to complete.
This survey will close on April 23 at 11:59pm.
On Wednesday Edmonton Police Service has asked Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Service Mike Ellis to intervene in and investigate city council's latest appointments of Dan Jones and Renée Vaugeois to the Police Commission. On Thursday Ellis said he will lunch an inquiry into the growing acrimony amongst the Edmonton police, the commission that oversees it and city council. Late Thursday afternoon Dan Jones one of the new police commissioner appointees said he is stepping down from the post.
Reading the accounts of the past couple of days reminds me of kids squabbling on the playground, but this is more serious. On Thursday Minister Ellis said ongoing dysfunction between the three bodies “is negatively impacting public safety, public trust and the ability to deliver adequate and effective policing, putting public safety in Edmonton at risk.”
It has been seven years since the Edmonton Police Commission has disclosed what honorarium commissioners receive. The amount of the honorarium was supposed to be disclosed four times a year until January 2023, and twice a year after that. Commissioners volunteer their time and receive $150 to $400 for attending meetings, seminars, and other events depending on hours spent and if a member chairs a session.
Its true that Edmonton Police Commissioners are volunteers and while their role is appreciated, the lack of disclosure of their honoraria does prompt the following questions:
What does it mean to volunteer?
When does a formalized honorarium become a wage?
The Edmonton Police Commission is composed of a 12-member civilian board, seven appointed by council, three appointed by the provincial government and two City Council members, Anne Stevenson and Jo-Anne Wright. Growing tensions in the relationship between council and the commission led to the Police Commission requesting that the two City Councillors be replaced with two members of the public.
Tensions between City Council and the Police Commission run high, but John McDougall, chairman of the Edmonton Police Commission, told council the tension isn’t the reason why this is being recommended. McDougall said a 2023 governance review by an external consultant was the reason for the commission’s recommendations.
On Tuesday city council considered the recommendation and voted 11-2 to not make any changes to the makeup of the Police Commission.....at least for now.
Edmonton City Council will meet on September 10th to consider a request to replace its two members on the Edmonton Police Commission with community appointees. Jo-Anne Wright and Anne Stevenson are the city council members who would transfer their seats to two council appointees, increasing the majority of appointees on the 13-membe board The request to change the makeup of the Police Commission comes at a time when tensions between the commission and council are strained. Read the JOURNAL article below to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons associated with the request.