Complaint calls for ouster of two city police commissioners

A complaint calling for the removal of two police commissioners has been lodged, alleging they showed bias and made disrespectful and false comments about someone who critiqued Edmonton police.

Lawyer Kate Engel wrote in the complaint sent Tuesday that Edmonton Police Commission (EPC) chair John Mcdougall and commissioner Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse broke the oversight body's rule meant to preserve the “integrity and impartiality of the commission and of city council” in comments made to council and to local media about Robert Houle's contribution to the recent discussions on the police budget.

Chair Mcdougall told Postmedia and other reporters on May 18 that Houle was “anti-police, anti-chief Mcfee, anti-mayor, and anti-city council” — something Houle disputed both at the time and in the complaint.

“There is absolutely no evidence to support this and in fact Mr. Houle adamantly denies it. That Mr. Mcdougall made these comments without evidence indicates his comments were informed by his personal opinions on Mr. Houle, and that he was personally offended by Mr. Houle speaking critically of police,” reads the complaint.

“The impression is Mr. Mcdougall is using polarizing language to silence those with criticisms surrounding police funding.”

The chair's comments, according to the complaint, cast doubt on his ability to be objective and breaks the code of conduct rule on impartiality and integrity.

During the May 18 meeting, Calahoo Stonehouse said Coun. Anne Stevenson should be removed from the commission because Houle works for her.

Stevenson has said Houle works for her about 10 hours a month as an adviser on the Indigenous framework, doesn't have access to commission business, and should be able to speak for himself freely on this topic. Stevenson also recently advocated for more transparency in the workings of the commission.

In the complaint, Houle asks the situation be reviewed independently if it can't be determined that the police commissioners who would do so don't hold similar views against himself or Stevenson.

During the mid-may meeting, Houle — who helped draft the community safety and well-being task force's Safer for All report on anti-racism and police reform — called for more transparency and scrutiny of police spending and performance, and freezing or rolling back the budget.

“It is obvious from her tone that Ms. Calahoo Stonehouse was angered by Mr. Houle's comments; the implication from this and her comments overall is she believes Mr. Houle's personal views, some of which are critical of police, conflict with the views of the police commission,” the complaint said. “This is problematic for obvious reasons, as the appearance is that Ms. Calahoo Stonehouse believes holding critical views on police is at odds with the best interests of the police commission.”

The complaint also says the pair broke rules around acting in a way that is “respectful and courteous” of commissioners and their staff, city police, and the public.

Reached for comment Tuesday, commission spokesman Matthew Barker said the commission couldn't comment as they had just received the complaint that day.