The Edmonton Police Commission wants to bring in an independent third party to help repair its relationship with city council after a back-and-forth dispute between the two parties over transparency.
In December, councilors approved a motion to ask the committee for an audit plan that would outline what parts of the Edmonton Police Service are audited and provide insight into police priorities.
On April 19, the committee sent a letter to council members refusing to provide the council with “information related to the EPS internal audit plan.”
Council members told Global News that the committee was invited to a meeting earlier this week, but the meeting never took place.
The committee then released a statement on Thursday afternoon, entitled ‘Transparency in police administration’.
“The EPS budget … is included in the City of Edmonton’s consolidated financial statements and is already subject to an independent, third-party audit coordinated annually by the City,” the commission said in the statement.
“The committee stands by its decision to maintain our internal audit function as currently structured because audit material and topics outside of tax matters are the sole responsibility of the committee.”
The Edmonton Police Commission, an oversight body responsible for striking a balance between public accountability and police independence, said the audit program focuses on internal risks to the organization.
Commissioners believe this type of information is not something that should be shared publicly or with the council.
“The Council has no operational oversight of the police and cannot make any operational recommendations that may result from an audit process,” the statement said.
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“Therefore, the focus of any inspection requested by the municipality must remain on its own areas of responsibility, which are limited to the finances of the police.”
The The edmonton police commission consists of two appointed councilors – Jo-Anne Wright and Anne Stevenson – along with eleven appointed citizens from all walks of life.
Police Chief Dale McFee told reporters Thursday that both the commission and council play important roles.
“If you use your role effectively and let the entity in charge handle the discussion and take the actions, it’s a lot easier,” he said.
The committee’s statement on June 6 said it formally requested a meeting with the council and an independent, third-party facilitator “to improve our working relationship by examining the roles and responsibilities of council members and commissioners so that we can move forward constructively can book for the benefit of all Edmontonians.”
At the time of publication, the EPC said it was still waiting for the council’s response to the request.
In a statement in response to Thursday’s committee memo, Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he is committed to ensuring EPS has adequate funding to improve safety and well-being.
He noted that the city recently increased the police budget by almost 20 percent.
“It is often frustrating that the city cannot ask questions about whether these investments are making a difference, and how the city’s resources are being effectively allocated to make our community safer,” Sohi said.
“I understand that the Edmonton Police Commission has a responsibility to oversee the budget once it is allocated by council, but the council has a responsibility to the taxpayers of Edmonton to ensure those resources are used effectively.”
The Edmonton Police Commission said councilors still haven’t said whether they are open to the idea of bringing in an outside facilitator.
But Sohi said his office is working with the committee to plan a “facilitated discussion” on how they can work together to communicate with Edmontonians.
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