The Minister of Public Safety & Emergency Services Mike Ellis has notified Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee that the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has concluded their investigation into the Edmonton Police Service’s response to encampment removals at the University of Alberta earlier this year.

Using the definition of ‘serious’ that is regularly employed by ASIRT when conducting investigations into harm caused by police, ASIRT has found that the allegation of ‘serious’ injuries cannot be verified. The Edmonton Police Service fully cooperated with ASIRT during their investigation, which included providing evidence such as camera footage where it existed.

As such, the matter no longer falls within ASIRT’s mandate and complaints related to the University of Alberta incident would fall under the mandate of the EPS Professional Standards Branch (PSB). To date, PSB has not received any complaints from the public that have standing under the Police Act.  To have standing, a citizen must have witnessed or had direct involvement in the incident they are reporting to PSB.

We appreciate the extent of ASIRT’s investigation and the confirmation that no one was seriously injured as a result EPS’ response to the encampment removal.

While all citizens have the right to peaceful demonstration, the EPS is committed to ensuring demonstrations remain lawful, peaceful, and safe.