Edmonton Police Service
| Edmonton Police Service | |
|---|---|
| 220x140px
Logo of the Edmonton Police Service
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| Motto | Integrity • Courage • Community |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1892 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Legal jurisdiction | Municipal |
| General nature |
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| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | 9620 103A Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta |
| Sworn members | 1550 |
| Unsworn members | 575 |
| Elected officer responsible | The Honourable Kathleen Ganley, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General |
| Agency executive | Roderick Knecht, Chief of Police |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 15 |
| Website | |
| www.edmontonpolice.ca | |
Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is the municipal police force for the City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Contents
Organization
The current head of the EPS is Roderick Knecht.
The service has three deputy chiefs. Danielle Campbell is responsible for Corporate Services, Brian Simpson runs the Specialized Community Support Bureau, and Tony Harder heads up the Community Policing Bureau.[1]
Operations
EPS is divided into three bureaus:
- Community Policing Bureau
- Specialized Community Support Bureau
- Corporate Services Bureau
Patrol
The city is divided into divisions for general patrol purposes:
- Northeast
- Northwest
- Downtown
- West
- Southwest
- Southeast
Each division is separated into four smaller districts to allow for better deployment of resources. The majority of police officers of the Edmonton Police Service serve within the Community Policing Bureau as patrol constables, sergeants, detectives, or staff sergeants.
Criminal Investigations
Within the Specialized Community Support Bureau - Criminal Investigations Division, the Major Crimes Branch is divided into Economic Crimes, Homicide and Robbery. These areas are primarily made up of detectives and staff sergeants. The Serious Crimes area deals with Sexual Assault, Child Protection, and Vice. These areas are also made up of detectives and staff sergeants.
Ranks
- Chief of Police
- Deputy Chief
- Superintendent
- Inspector
- Staff Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Constable
History
Edmonton's police dates back to 1892, well before the founding of the province.
On July 27, 1892, P.D. Campbell was the first police officer hired by the town of Edmonton. Aside from dealing with law enforcement issues, Campbell was also Edmonton's health and licence inspector. [2]
In 1911, Alex Decoteau was hired by the Edmonton Police Department, becoming the first full-blooded aboriginal to be hired by a police department in Canada. [3]
On October 1, 1912, Annie May Jackson was hired on as Edmonton's first female police officer, winning out over a field of 47 applicants. [4]
An airplane was used to pursue a criminal in 1919, which was the first time a Canadian police service used this tactic.
Policing changes
During the sixth decade of policing, from 1942 to 1952, the department continued to grow.
In 1943, the good Neighbourhood Police Force was seen policing Edmonton's streets. An Edmonton police officer was paired up with an American Military police officer to patrol because there were many Americans in Edmonton at the time. After 18 months, it was discontinued when there was no longer a need for it. [3]
Recruit training
In 1947, formal recruit training was introduced. Prior to the formal training, officers were sent to the streets with minimal instruction. After six months of training in 1949, 15 officers graduated. [3]
In 1951, the Department recruited in Scotland and Ireland after struggling to meet recruit demands.[2]
In 1955, Basic Training Class number one graduated, with 28 members completing the course. [2]
Edmonton Police's Pipe Band, which had formed in 1914, halted because of the war. It re-emerged in 1959 and became a visible public relations tool still performing today.
Edmonton's growth
In the 1960s, the town of Beverly and Edmonton joined and the Jasper Place Police Department joined forces with the Edmonton Police Department, adding the population of Jasper Place to Edmonton.[2]
Sarge, a dog, officially joined the Department in 1963. The Dog Squad grew, and a kennel and training ground was opened by the municipal airport in 1974. The location is the same, and is named after Sarge's owner, Val Vallevand.[3]
Awards
Each year the Edmonton Police Service honours individuals for their service through a number of awards or medals including:
- Jim Dempsey Customer Service Award
- Essay for Excellence
- Beverly MacLean Legacy Bursary
- Performance, Bravery and Life Saving Awards
- Long Service Medals (25 years)
- Police Exemplary Service Medal (20 years)
Police misconduct
On June 18, 2006, an Edmonton police officer was alleged to have struck an unarmed and handcuffed woman in the head, resulting in her falling to the ground, leaving her bloodied and injured. During the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, many Edmontonians watched the games in Old Strathcona bars, becoming drunk and belligerent. A journalist witnessed the incident and said the woman was being taken to a bus with other people under arrest when she uttered something to the officer who then approached her, handcuffed her and struck the woman on the side of the head. An internal police investigation was ordered but no charges were laid.[5][6]
On July 8, 2008, two high-ranking members of the Edmonton Police were found guilty of assaulting a homeowner and entering his home without a search warrant. Staff Sgt. Jamie Ewatski and Patrol Sgt. Giovanni Fiorilli were convicted of the assault, while a third officer was found not guilty. The judge deemed the officers had assaulted Mr. Dubois at least 3 different times during the ordeal.[7] This conviction, however, was overturned by a higher court on appeal. The higher level appeal court judge found that the lower level judge had made a "palpable and overriding error".[8]
References
- ↑ Edmonton Police Service - EPS Leadership
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Montgomery, Kenneth (1982). Pride in the Past, 1894 – 1982.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Mair, A.J. (1992). EPS The First 100 Years, A History of the Edmonton Police Service. Friesen Printers.
- ↑ Donaghey, Sam. (1972). A History of the City of Edmonton Police Department. Blue, Red, and Gold.
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- ↑ http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Officers+cleared+2004+assault+charges/1480592/story.html[dead link]
