'A slap in the face': Edmonton police association upset with Madu; Kenney not answering questions
The leader of Edmonton's police association joined a growing list of people Wednesday who are calling for Kaycee Madu to step down permanently as Alberta's minister of justice and solicitor general.
Madu is embroiled in controversy after he admitted that he called the city's police chief after he received a distracted-driving ticket last March.
Madu paid the ticket, but still insists his phone was in his pocket before he was pulled over.
The MLA for Edmonton-South West, who is Black, said he called because he wanted to make sure he wasn't being surveilled or racially profiled by the Edmonton Police Service.
"I thought it was preposterous to make such an allegation," said S/Sgt. Michael Elliott, president of the Edmonton Police Association.
"I may get in trouble for saying this, but it's like a slap in the face to my colleagues," he told CTV News Edmonton.
In an explanation posted to Twitter Tuesday night, Madu referred to a case involving the Lethbridge Police Service.
Last July, LPS officers Sgt. Jason Carrier and Const. Keon Woronuk were temporarily demoted after admitting they tracked MLA Shannon Phillips and took photographs of her for personal and political reasons.
"First, due to the timing of the incident, I wanted to ensure that I was not being unlawfully surveilled following the Lethbridge Police Service controversy, and on my way to Legislature on a day I was meeting with the media to answer questions on Lethbridge Police Service," Madu wrote.
"Second, I also raised concerns around profiling of racial minorities that was in the media at the time and wanted the Chief to hear about my own experience. As Minister, these are concerns that were constantly being brought to my attention."
Madu said EPS Chief Dale McFee assured him he wasn't being watched or profiled, so the MLA accepted him at his word.
Elliott said he personally knows the officer that pulled over Madu and called the MLA's concerns "shameful and preposterous."
"We're out there 24/7 trying to assist and help the citizens every day. This was an infraction in a school zone, where there's children around, and giving a ticket for that is the appropriate measure," Elliott explained.
"But to look up and try to make an accusation, or to try to draw some parallel that it's race related, is unfathomable."
Elliott said EPS members who receive traffic tickets are not supposed to reach out to a supervisor or higher ranking officer about that because "it's just wrong."
Meanwhile, Premier Jason Kenney has not yet answered questions about when he knew about the incident and why it went unreported for 10 months.
CTV News Edmonton reached out to the justice ministry and to several people in the premier's office for comment on this story, but received no responses.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.