Edmonton Police Service

Operations

EPS is divided into three bureaus:

Patrol

The city is divided into divisions for general patrol purposes:

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. Officers of the Edmonton Police Service have the highest 1st year constable salaries in Canada at a minimum of $61,134.00 per annum (or about $29.27 an hour), followed by the Calgary Police Service at $59,404.00 per annum. EPS officers who work a shift where half or more of that shift falls between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight receive an extra $1.10 an hour. EPS officers who work a shift where half or more of that shift falls between the hours of midnight and 8 a.m. receive an extra $1.20 an hour, increasing the minimum hourly rate for 1st year constables to $30.47 or about $63,621.00 per annum. Special event policing pays $93.89 an hour. Sergeants/Detectives are paid a minimum $109,494.00 per annum, or about $52.43 an hour, and Staff Sergeants are paid a minimum $120,443.00 per annum.

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. Edmonton Police Service is also a member of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In 1951, the Department recruited in Scotland and Ireland after struggling to meet recruit demands.

In 1955, Basic Training Class number one graduated, with 28 members completing the course.

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.

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.

Awards

Each year the Edmonton Police Service honours individuals for their service through a number of awards or medals including:

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.

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. 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".