“Is there things we have done wrong, or should we do something different? But at the same time, it’s pretty important that we proceed with keeping the officer safety perspective at the forefront, as well as the civilian safety.”
Police Chief Dale McFee urged Edmontonians to let the legal process play out after a pair of recent police shootings — another of which has turned deadly.
The man’s death follows the deadly police shooting of Mathios (Matthew) Arkangelo, who was shot after an alleged impaired driving crash on Anthony Henday Drive.
Speaking after Thursday’s police commission meeting, McFee urged the public to be patient while the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) probes both cases.
“It is a good process as far as these processes of independent review go, unfortunately we just have to be a bit patient.”
McFee said there are times he would like to provide more information about the circumstances of a shooting, but stressed releasing such details can jeopardize investigations.
“It’s pretty important to get it right before you talk and put (information) in the public domain.”
The man who died Friday was shot early Wednesday after reports he pointed a gun a civilian and was waving it in the air. His name has not been released.
Police said in a news release that officers arrived at Whyte Avenue and 93 Street to find the man pointing what appeared to be a firearm at a bus. He was shot after a “confrontation” with officers.
The man was given first aid until paramedics arrived. A “replica” handgun was found at the scene, said police.
Arkangelo, 28, was shot and killed 18 days earlier.
ASIRT in a release said in Arkangelo’s case, police responded just before 9 p.m. on June 29 to a single-vehicle rollover on Anthony Henday drive. A 911 caller told police the driver of the vehicle had left the scene on foot. He was found about half an hour later in the nearby community of Fraser, where patrol officers assisted by the Air 1 helicopter confronted him.
“The male stopped walking and raised his arms to his sides while facing the officer who had his gun drawn,” ASIRT said. “The subject officer and male engaged verbally with each other. The subject officer fired his weapon at the male who was hit and dropped to the ground.”
Arkangelo has since been identified by family, who say they want answers for his killing. Neither ASIRT nor city police said whether Arkangelo was carrying a weapon, though family have said he may have been showing police a utility knife he used for work, and was trying to indicate it was not dangerous.
McFee said in addition to the ASIRT probes, police review the circumstances whenever an officer kills someone.
“Is there things we have done wrong, or should we do something different? But at the same time, it’s pretty important that we proceed with keeping the officer safety perspective at the forefront, as well as the civilian safety.
“We want to make sure people get the message that when we’re there, follow the commands. At the same time, our officers need to proceed with as much information as they have on these calls.”
Since 2015, the agency — made up of retired and seconded police officers — has laid charges in 40 cases.