Police officers involved in recent shootings on leave
Edmonton police officers involved in two separate shootings within a five-day period remain on mandatory administrative leave.
Alberta Federation of Police Associations interim president Insp. Bob Walsh said he had spoken with the members over the past couple of days and said they are “doing very well.”
He did not say how many officers were on leave.
“Obviously, it’s a traumatic situation,” Walsh said.
The first shooting happened Thursday in the southwest neighbourhood of Hodgson when an officer was responding to a report of an impaired driver.
The officer opened fire, killing the 55-year-old driver of a minivan, later identified as Vitaly Savin, after both got out of their vehicles during an impaired driving stop in a cul-de-sac on Hollands Landing around 1:43 p.m.
A large hunting knife was found near Savin’s body, the province’s police watchdog Alberta Serious Incident Response Team said in a news release.
The officer who shot Savin was a six-year veteran of the force.
On Monday, police shot and injured 36-year-old Glenn Justin (Occo) Ironchild, after he was
seen brandishing a hunting rifle at a city intersection in the Clareview neighbourhood.
Officers were responding to calls of a gunman near 137 Avenue and 50 Street at 11:30 a.m. Ironchild, who had a lifetime ban on possessing weapons, was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital with gunshot wounds.
On Wednesday, Ironchild’s father said on Facebook his son was responsive and talking and was recovering from his injuries.
The officer who shot Ironchild was a 10-year member of the police service. He was on patrol with a new recruit who didn’t fire his weapon.
Both incidents are under investigation by ASIRT.
Walsh said the incidents highlighted the dangers of the job.
“You just never know when you are going to a call what can happen,” he said.
“(The shootings) just makes everybody a little more apprehensive, a little more aware of what’s out there and the possibility that these things can happen at any time. Nobody wants to use lethal force unless it is the last resort.”