Sources tell CTV News convicted cop killer Albert Foulston is now a free man after being released from prison Friday.
Foulston has spent most of his life behind bars and has a total of 25 convictions. He was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter in connection with the 1990 killing of Const. Ezio Faraone.
The 46-year-old is now at a halfway house to make his transition back into the community.
His release is now sparking quite the controversy across Edmonton.
"He killed a police officer and he should stay in jail forever," said Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.
Retired police officer Ernie Schrieber told CTV News it seemed like yesterday when his tactical team was chasing down two bank robbery suspects.
Foulston's partner, Jerry Crews, shot the officer after the pair robbed a bank.
That day, Schrieber arrested the two men.
Mike Boyd, Chief of Police agrees with Stelmach. He wrote a letter to the parole board and Corrections Canada asking them to reconsider releasing Foulston.
"I'm hoping that they will consider the information and consider what their options might be," said Boyd.
The parole board said it had no other legal option but to release the man because it can only keep someone behind bars after two-thirds of their sentence have been served.
Parole documents suggest that the man is a "moderate to high risk" to re-offend in a violent way and police feel Foulston needs to stay behind bars in order to protect the community.
"Any individual who refuses treatment and refuses acknowledgment of their crimes in prison poses a threat to society. They should be allowed to keep that person in custody," said Edmonton Police Association president Sgt. Tony Simioni.
Parole documents also showed that Foulston has re-offended at least four times after being released from custody in the past. The latest occurrence was in 2005 in B.C. where he was picked by police for drug use. which was just 24 hours after being freed.
With files from CTV's Scott Roberts
