Beat sergeant elected head of Edmonton Police Association
A Whyte Avenue beat sergeant is the new leader of the union representing Edmonton police officers.
Sgt. Michael Elliott, who works in the city’s southwest division, was elected president of the Edmonton Police Association (EPA) on Friday.
“It’s a little overwhelming,” Elliott said. “I’m just humbled and honoured that the membership supported me in this, and I will do my best to support them in return.”
Around 1,000 of the service’s roughly 1,800 sworn members voted in the election, interim president Bob Walsh said. The association negotiates collective agreements and handles work environment issues for Edmonton Police Service (EPS) members.
Elliott defeated Sgt. Cory Huculak, an acting vice-president of the Edmonton Police Association who is a beat officer in north Edmonton. Walsh could not immediately provide vote totals Friday afternoon.
The association has had an acting president since 2016 when then-president Maurice Brodeur was removed following an explosive news conference in which he criticized the leadership of EPS Chief Rod Knecht.
Brodeur was a sergeant and partway through his three-year term when he was removed. In criticizing the chief, he cited a union survey of officers that said there was a “culture of fear” on the force and called for an independent review.
Elliott is currently vice-president of the Alberta Federation of Police Associations and a director with the EPA. He is also active on Twitter.
Elliott officially takes over as president on Jan. 1. Walsh said five incumbents and two new candidates were elected to director positions.
Elliott joined the Edmonton Police Service in 2005. He is originally from Newfoundland and Labrador and studied political science as an undergraduate.
Before becoming a police officer he went through pilot training with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He joined the police association in his third year with the EPS.
“I have a passion to help the members — that’s what’s important to me,” he said, “making sure they’re treated equally and with respect and that everything is above board regardless of any decision that’s made — whether it’s a posting within the police service or anything with a Professional Standards Branch investigation.”
Elliott said collective bargaining will be a big issue during his three-year term.
The association just began a round of collective bargaining with the city after the current contract expired this month.
Other issues include keeping police officers safe from fentanyl and navigating marijuana legalization, he said.