Head of Edmonton police commission resigns after move to Portugal

John McDougall speaks to CTV News Edmonton on Sept. 10, 2024. (CTV News)

John McDougall, chair of the Edmonton Police Commission, has resigned his position effective immediately.

The move comes after McDougall announced on Friday he was retiring and moving to Portugal.

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"It is clear that my residency would be an unwelcome distraction from the important work of the commission, which is not fair to the citizens who rely on us to provide governance and oversight of the Edmonton Police Service," he wrote in a statement released on Tuesday morning.

"I thank my fellow commissioners whom I had the pleasure serving alongside over the past seven years. I am truly honoured to have improved policing in Edmonton and look forward to seeing that work continue for the betterment of this city."

McDougall initially announced he would stay on as chair of the commission until the end of his term.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he was pleased with McDougall's decision.

"Next year is a very pivotal year and a very important year because the commission will be engaged in not only to fill the chief’s position on an interim basis but also putting a process together to hire the new chief," he told reporters at city hall.

"So it’s very important that people who are involved in the process are vested in the city and they have the connection to the community and they’re able to engage with community members on a regular basis."

Sohi said he'd like to see some of the residency requirements for the committee tightened up before McDougall is replaced.

"My understanding has always been that residency exemptions were created for exceptional situations, such a somebody temporarily moving out of the city for a job or temporarily moving out of the city for a family emergency or unforeseen situations, not to accommodate someone who is making a decision to permanently move out of the city and the country," he said.

The minister of public safety said Tuesday prior to McDougall's announcement that the province supported him as he transitioned his residency to a new country.

"John McDougall has been serving on the commission for nearly seven years and his experience and knowledge is vital during this time of change at EPS and at the commission," Minister Mike Ellis wrote.

"John is regularly in Edmonton and engaged with the daily activities of the commission."

Ellis added he expected McDougall to step down "later in 2025" after he completed his move.