Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee defended his officers’ actions at a pro-Palestine rally that resulted in the removal of encampments at the University of Alberta. McFee appeared at an Edmonton Police Commission meeting to address concerns raised by the public and commission members. He emphasized that police have clear responsibilities to respond to protests and enforce laws, while protesters have the responsibility to obey the law and respect private property.
However, many individuals who spoke at the meeting voiced their opposition to the police’s use of force, with some claiming to have been hit by officers. Concerns were also raised about the lack of visible name tags and badge numbers on officers during the response. McFee assured the commission that officers would wear name tags and badge numbers in the future.
Edmonton Police Commission Chair John McDougall highlighted the importance of the commission’s role as a civilian oversight body and its commitment to hearing from citizens. He expressed concerns after seeing photos and videos of officers not wearing name tags and badge numbers, and stated that he had spoken with McFee about this.
The meeting was held online due to safety concerns following a shooting at Edmonton city hall on Jan. 23. Security measures at city hall have been significantly increased, including the addition of metal detectors and multiple security guards on each floor. Despite these measures, commission members expressed nervousness after a previous meeting saw a large crowd speaking out against the police response.
