Deputy chief to head EPS until new chief is named

A long-serving Edmonton police officer will take over as the police service’s interim chief next month.

The Edmonton Police Commission announced Wednesday that Kevin Brezinski, one of Edmonton’s three deputy chiefs, will serve as interim police chief starting Nov. 1, the day after Chief Rod Knecht leaves the job.

Brezinski will serve as interim chief until Edmonton’s 23rd police chief is officially sworn in, a police commission news release said.

Brezinski has been with Edmonton police since 1992, the news release said. He is currently in charge of the community policing bureau north.

Last week, police commission chairman Tim O’Brien said the commission expects to name the next full-time police chief in early November.

O’Brien said there are both internal and external candidates on the short list for the top job.

Knecht officially leaves the position on Oct. 31. He has been in the role since 2011. Knecht had spoken openly about seeking a contract extension, but said commissioners did not support his time frame for staying on. He later said that his relationship with earlier commissioners had been “caustic.”

In a news release Wednesday, O’Brien said Brezinski “has the full support and confidence of the commission to lead the service until a new chief assumes the role.”