Alberta Sheriffs helping EPS may be more about politics than public safety: political scientist
With Alberta Sheriffs deploying downtown later this month to help improve safety, a political scientist believes the move could be aimed more at voters than criminals.
Lori Williams, a Mount Royal University policy studies professor, says the use of provincial sheriffs to back up the Edmonton Police Service might be political posturing before Albertans head to the polls this May.
Last week, Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis announced 12 sheriffs would be part of a 15-week pilot program to support police officers working with the Healthy Streets Operations Centre.
That centre has teams of police, peace officers, paramedics and firefighters, as well as community safety liaisons who respond to incidents to provide a holistic safety solution.
According to police Chief Dale McFee, the additional sheriffs would allow the centre to extend its hours of operation from five to seven days a week and to 20 hours of coverage a day.
With increasing public safety being the main part of government messaging, Williams says it may not be the only motivator.
- If EPS, sheriffs try a hard crackdown on inner-city Edmonton it could make things worse: criminologist
- 'We are going to fix this': Alberta sends sheriffs downtown to help EPS amid mounting safety concerns
"These days, you have to read just about everything that's happening with the provincial government with a view to the election," she said.
In her view, the province may be looking to generate support for the United Conservative Party in the city and surrounding areas.
"I'm not sure this is just about what's happening in Edmonton," she told CTV News Edmonton. "Given that even though the UCP has good, strong support in rural Alberta, they do not have support for the provincial police force.
"I think this particular move can also be seen as an attempt to generate more support for the provincial police force," Williams added. "Perhaps this a move in the direction of trying to show the people of Alberta that are maybe against it that this is a good idea.
"However, you put some of these activities together with some of the allegations around prosecutorial interference, some people are worried too much direct influence by the provincial government on any kind of policing is not a good idea. That we want more distance, more oversight and a separation between the police and the government."
Some constituents may find an extra uniformed presence reassuring, but Edmonton City Centre MLA David Shepherd views the sheriffs as a "short-term bandage of a solution."
- 'Disturbing': Smith promises change after Edmonton bus damaged, rider threatened with ice pick
- Sohi, DBA want to bring more businesses downtown as Sport Chek leaves Edmonton City Centre
"What we have seen from this government is they've dragged their feet, they've ignored problems here in the heart of our city for years," said Shepherd, who is also the NDP health critic.
"It took them over a year to come up with $5 million they promised to our downtown in the budget last year," he added.
While law enforcement has a role to play in public safety downtown, Shepherd says they are one part of the support spectrum the province should be investing in, including more harm reduction options, crisis diversion, mental health support and affordable housing.
"What we need to see is this government filling in the holes they've dug in terms of social supports for these individuals, stepping up to the table," Shepherd said.
"Policing is a temporary solution, and we need to be doing much, much more."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.