UPDATED: EPS requests provincial investigation into city’s police commission appointments

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has formally asked Alberta Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis and Emergency Services to investigate two recent appointments to the Edmonton Police Commission (EPC), citing significant concerns about their suitability for the roles.

Hours later, one of the people in question resigned.

The request, submitted on Wednesday, invokes section 30(1.2) of the Police Act, which allows for ministerial intervention when disagreements arise regarding the appointment of police commissioners.

The EPS is seeking a review of both the appointment process and the individuals selected — Renée Vaugeois and Dan Jones. It was the latter who resigned.

“By joining the Edmonton Police Commission, my goal was to be able to serve our community in a different way," he said. “I had not anticipated that providing this service to my fellow Edmontonians would cause such consternation and concern arising from any real or perceived conflict of interest which may or may not be determined."

“Not wanting to have my term as a commissioner clouded or overshadowed by these concerns for the next two years," he added, "I believe the community would be best served by my resignation from the Commission.”

While privacy laws prevent the EPS from disclosing specific concerns, the service indicated the issues relate to public-facing activities conducted by the appointees in their professional or personal capacities.

The EPS argues these concerns could impair the appointees' ability to function effectively as commissioners and hinder the EPC’s governance role.

“The governance relationship between city council and the EPC is vital to maintaining public trust and ensuring effective oversight of the police service,” the EPS said in its statement.

It emphasized that unresolved issues surrounding the appointments could impede the EPC’s work, including the critical task of selecting a new Chief of Police in the coming months.

The EPS maintains its commitment to collaborating with the EPC to uphold community safety, accountability, and transparency but insists that all commissioners must be capable of performing their roles diligently and lawfully.

City council announced the appointments of Vaugeois and Jones, along with Carola Cunningham and Zahro Hassan, in December 2024 for two-year terms ending December 31, 2026.

These appointments replaced vice-chair Anne-Marie Lambert, David Sowemimo, and Wally Sinclair, while Kemi Kufuor-Boakye chose not to renew her term.

The EPC comprises two city councillors, seven members appointed by city council, and up to five members appointed by the Alberta government.

The province is expected to announce its appointees soon.

The EPS has notified all affected parties of its application but will refrain from further public comment until privacy concerns are addressed.

These appointments replaced vice-chair Anne-Marie Lambert, David Sowemimo, and Wally Sinclair, while Kemi Kufuor-Boakye chose not to renew her term.

Minister Ellis told the Western Standard that the relationship betwen the EPS, City of Edmonton Council, and the EPC had become "increasingly dysfunctional."

"This ongoing dysfunction is negatively impacting public safety, public trust and the ability to deliver adequate and effective policing, putting public safety in Edmonton at risk," he said. "Under Section 30 of Alberta's Police Act, disagreements between any police service, commission, policing committee, or council relating to policing services may be referred to the Minister."

"Under Section 30, I intend to launch an inquiry into this alleged dysfunction," he continued. "I understand the two positions being contested have agreed that it would be appropriate to step away while a investigation was being held. I agree, and therefore during the inquiry, the two positions that are being contested will be put on hold until the inquiry is completed, and all matters are considered."

Ellis went on to emphasize the importance of working together "while navigating this critical time."

"The allegations contained in this complaint are neither minor nor frivolous and choosing to launch an inquiry is not done lightly," he said. "The risks of erosion of public trust are too high. It cannot be tolerated in Edmonton or in any part of Alberta. These are important issues, and it is our hope that our inquiry will foster a stronger relationship between EPS, the Edmonton Police Commission, Edmonton City Council, and most importantly, the people of Edmonton."

He said he would provide "more details on the scope of this inquiry in the coming days."