Knecht open to union calls for probe into ‘culture of fear’
Edmonton’s police chief said he is troubled by a deteriorating relationship with his union counterpart amid claims that he presides over a “culture of fear” in the Edmonton Police Service.
Edmonton Police Association president Maurice Brodeur is calling for an independent review after a survey of union members that he said demonstrates a “toxic” workplace.
Brodeur said EPS has some of the highest rates of discipline and most severe punishments of any force across Canada. He said while discipline is important, the way it’s doled out in Edmonton is too harsh.
But Chief Rod Knecht disagrees.
“I have very little discretion in carrying out those duties as chief of police,” he said, adding that he is bound by legislation. “Each case is judged on its own particular facts. There isn’t a cookie-cutter approach.”
He added that he had an “open and progressive relationship” with Brodeur’s predecessor, but that has changed.
“If they believe an independent review of our culture is a better way, I welcome (it),” Knecht said.
Brodeur said his decision to go public with the survey — which included a question about Knecht’s ability to continue leading the service — isn’t wholly an attack on the chief, but does take issue with leadership style.
“I think the leadership comes from the cauldron of the leadership within the RCMP where the chief comes from,” Brodeur said, adding that the RCMP style can be “autocratic.”
About 50 per cent of those surveyed said they were “very unconfident” or “somewhat unconfident” in Knecht’s ability to continue leading.
Knecht has been chief since 2011, when he left the position of RCMP senior deputy commissioner. He took over the role from Mike Boyd, who held the position for four years until 2010. Before him, Fred Rayner was fired and Bob Wasylyshen left under a cloud of controversy. Knecht’s contract with EPS is slated to end in 2018 after being extended earlier this year.
Brodeur said the association hopes to work with the chief to address their concerns.
Of the 1,850 sworn association members, 60 per cent completed the survey. Among those who responded, Brodeur said almost 80 per cent answered “agree” or “strongly agree” to the question asking whether they thought they were working in a “culture of fear.”
Brodeur added 95 per cent of the respondents agreed that working for EPS was very stressful, and 40 per cent said they had looked for jobs outside EPS. “They need to feel that they are welcome and supported and properly cared for, and they’re not feeling that,” he said.
A report that will outline the findings of the survey is being prepared and will be made available in the coming weeks, Brodeur said. He is calling on the Edmonton Police Commission and city council to engage in an independent review of the service.
He said the association asked the EPS to partner with them on a health and wellness survey during the winter, but said Knecht declined and said EPS would be doing its engagement survey instead. EPS did the survey, but Brodeur said the results were “flawed.”
Knecht said the EPS survey showed that officers want their peers held accountable. “Internal discipline is one of the key ingredients to building and maintaining that public trust,” he said.
He added that the public has high expectations of police, and disciplinary action affects a small percentage of officers. He said less than five per cent of officers are subject to any form of discipline.
“Quite frankly, we’re too short of police officers to want to fire anybody,” he said. “Secondly, we invest heavily in these people.”
Coun. Moe Banga, a veteran former police officer, said he didn’t experience a toxic work environment while on the force. “The scrutiny is at a much higher level … is it necessarily a bad thing? I don’t think so,” he said. “If there is a cause for discipline, you need to be disciplined.”