The Westerner for August 27, 2012
Posted by Ben Doz
on Sep 4, 2012
Guests: Diane Parker - Edmonton Strathcona
Announcements:
Announcements:
- Grandview Concert - Thursday, September 6th. Performance will begin at 6:30 pm, so try to be there by 6:15 pm.
- Front Desk Schedule - Has been distributed by Club Service Director Catharine. If you cannot make your scheduled date, please trade your date with another member.
- 50/50 Draw - Zen Moisey and Don McDermid did not match cards
PROGRAM - FUTURE OF POLICING IN THE CITY OF EDMONTON
Past President Don McDermid (former Deputy Commissioner of RCMP) introduced City of Edmonton Chief of Police Rod Knecht.
Chief Knecht is our 27th Chief of Police, and is an Alberta native. He began work with the RCMP at age 19 with postings in Kyle, SK, Bichills, SK, Buffalo Narrows, SK, Tisdale, SK, and the Regina Highway Patrol. Chief Knecht then took undercover training in Vancouver before working in the Regina Drug Section. From there he was posted to Lloydminster, Prince Albert, Milton, ON, Kingston, ON, and Toronto, ON.
After being promoted to the rank of Inspector, he began the investigation into the tainted blood scandal, a four-year stint, investigating the contamination of blood products with Hepatitis C and HIV.
Following this, he transferred to Alberta where he became the Commanding Officer of RCMP Western Canada. Later he was promoted to the highest uniform position of the RCMP in Canada, based in Ottawa.
Leaving the RCMP, Chief Knecht took on the position of Edmonton Police Service Chief on June 7, 2011. His first challenge was the unforseen homicide rate. By this time in 2011, there had been 33 homicides, compared to 18 to date in 2012. This placed a quick, difficult challenge to overcome that was met with a combination of a violence policy and changing circumstances in Edmonton.
The Violence Reduction Strategy began in August 2011 with two initiatives: Community Action Teams that blitzed areas with police presence followed with Social Agency work. The teams then moved on to other neighborhoods as required. After one year, this has met with quite favourable results and is to be continued. The second initiative was Project O. The execution of warrants based upon the top 100 worst offenders of the approximately 16,000 outstanding warrants. Within one month, 5,000 warrants had been cleared. This program is likely to be renewed in November.
A new strategy is the Stat Teams. This will focus on community crime via enforcement of traffic violations. Rather than just writing a ticket, officers will execute warrants, check VINs and check the status of vehicle occupants.
Chief Knecht then answered a few questions, commenting on the low vacancy rate of prisons, the challenges of photo radar, and Edmonton's status as a party spot for oilfield workers. He also discussed the need for increased police visibility with the new car colors, and that dedicated anti-gang units are integrated with Alberta-wide task forces.
Rod has been married for 30 years, and has 17 and 20 year-old daughters.
Rod was thanked by Past President Mike Ryan.
Past President Don McDermid (former Deputy Commissioner of RCMP) introduced City of Edmonton Chief of Police Rod Knecht.
Chief Knecht is our 27th Chief of Police, and is an Alberta native. He began work with the RCMP at age 19 with postings in Kyle, SK, Bichills, SK, Buffalo Narrows, SK, Tisdale, SK, and the Regina Highway Patrol. Chief Knecht then took undercover training in Vancouver before working in the Regina Drug Section. From there he was posted to Lloydminster, Prince Albert, Milton, ON, Kingston, ON, and Toronto, ON.
After being promoted to the rank of Inspector, he began the investigation into the tainted blood scandal, a four-year stint, investigating the contamination of blood products with Hepatitis C and HIV.
Following this, he transferred to Alberta where he became the Commanding Officer of RCMP Western Canada. Later he was promoted to the highest uniform position of the RCMP in Canada, based in Ottawa.
Leaving the RCMP, Chief Knecht took on the position of Edmonton Police Service Chief on June 7, 2011. His first challenge was the unforseen homicide rate. By this time in 2011, there had been 33 homicides, compared to 18 to date in 2012. This placed a quick, difficult challenge to overcome that was met with a combination of a violence policy and changing circumstances in Edmonton.
The Violence Reduction Strategy began in August 2011 with two initiatives: Community Action Teams that blitzed areas with police presence followed with Social Agency work. The teams then moved on to other neighborhoods as required. After one year, this has met with quite favourable results and is to be continued. The second initiative was Project O. The execution of warrants based upon the top 100 worst offenders of the approximately 16,000 outstanding warrants. Within one month, 5,000 warrants had been cleared. This program is likely to be renewed in November.
A new strategy is the Stat Teams. This will focus on community crime via enforcement of traffic violations. Rather than just writing a ticket, officers will execute warrants, check VINs and check the status of vehicle occupants.
Chief Knecht then answered a few questions, commenting on the low vacancy rate of prisons, the challenges of photo radar, and Edmonton's status as a party spot for oilfield workers. He also discussed the need for increased police visibility with the new car colors, and that dedicated anti-gang units are integrated with Alberta-wide task forces.
Rod has been married for 30 years, and has 17 and 20 year-old daughters.
Rod was thanked by Past President Mike Ryan.