City's police commission needs more transparency, Stevenson says

Edmonton's police commission needs to be more transparent and open up private meetings to foster public trust, a city councillor said Thursday.

Coun. Anne Stevenson, who is also a commissioner, said there needs to be a “cultural shift” so that the oversight body becomes comfortable asking difficult questions of police leadership in a public forum.

“I think there's been a different culture and expectation around the role that commission plays, (and) it is really meant to be very much an independent oversight body and needs to be exerting itself in that role,” she told Postmedia following a public meeting between city council and the commission Thursday morning.

Asking police officials difficult questions is something commissioners often do, but behind closed doors, according to Stevenson. However, as a city councillor, she sees the value of governing in public. “Anything that can be public should be public,” she said.

When it comes to city council business, Edmontonians can see the same reports as councillors and watch and listen to debates and questions. She hopes the commission takes a similar approach.

Stevenson acknowledges that when the commission routinely questions police only in private it may create — whether true or not — the perception it is too friendly with the very agency it's meant to hold accountable.

“I think being able to be more transparent, share more openly, can help counteract and address that narrative,” she said. “A lot of mistrust comes from a lack of information sharing.”

COMMISSION IS TRANSPARENT: CHAIR

Speaking to Postmedia after Thursday's meeting, Mcdougall said the commission has been “remarkably transparent” in its work, adding decisions are published on its website.

“I think the only thing I would want to change is encouraging more public interaction ... I would love the opportunity for the public to be more aware,” he said.

But Mcdougall said commissioners have spoken about making the currently private committee meetings public and he expects it won't be long before this happens.

“There's nothing that we want to hide. There's no reason that these cannot be public, other than the fact that we just haven't done them in the past.”

Asked why the commission is changing tack now, Mcdougall said while the commission has been transparent and accountable, the demand for oversight from the public is increasing.

TRANSPARENCY PUT TO THE TEST

The commission's commitment to transparency was put to the test during Thursday's special council meeting.

Coun. Keren Tang twice asked Mcdougall if he knew of the broader factors behind the string of police shootings in Edmonton this year and what steps the commission is taking to address them.

Mcdougall said he couldn't speak to ASIRT'S ongoing investigations or the Edmonton Police Service's operations.

“I was actually asking what is the commission doing, but if you want to comment after the investigation is over, happy to have a conversation as well,” Tang said.

Mcdougall followed up by saying the Edmonton police's strategic plan looks at gun crimes.

“Both the service and the commission are acutely aware of the number of guns that are on the streets, the ridiculous number of guns the service is taking off the streets, and the ongoing gun crime.”

Speaking to Postmedia, Mcdougall said the commission has questioned city police about the catalysts for the shooting and if it's related to gun violence or something internal.

Mcdougall also told council it can request any details needed when it comes to the police budget, as long as questions aren't about police operations or intelligence.

City council privately shelved a recommended audit into city police and the commission in January.