A relay event, Cycle for the Cause is part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics and both the public and media are invited to join the fun and support the cause!

When: Saturday, November 30, 2013, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Where: Phase 4, West Edmonton Mall, 8882-170 Street

From open to close, teams of officers will take turns riding stationary bikes to support local Special Olympics athletes. Several athletes will also be present, taking turns riding the bikes alongside officers.

About the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)
Founded in 1981, the LETR aims to increase awareness of Special Olympics. Thanks to the assistance offered by groups such as the LETR, Special Olympics has been able to continue offering sporting opportunities for individuals with disabilities in various cities, including Edmonton.

For more information on the LETR, Cycle for the Cause and other upcoming local and regional events, please visit the Alberta LETR website.

The full day "Hard Target" course is designed to educate men and women on how to protect themselves in various crime-related situations. Founded several years ago by Ryan Lawley, a Downtown Division Community Liaison Sergeant, Hard Target blends crime prevention and personal safety tips with basic self-defence techniques.

Lawley, the lead instructor of Hard Target, based the course on the concept of target hardening, the philosophy of involving informed security decisions about yourself and your belongings, to lessen the chance of a criminal considering you an easy target. In addition, simple defensive manoeuvres are taught to create opportunities for escape, in the event an altercation with a criminal turns physical.

"Those who have taken part in Hard Target (over 500 people since its inception in 2011) have found the course to be interactive, dynamic and held in a highly enjoyable and safe environment," says Lawley. "It's educational and fun, too. Participants walk away with an enhanced sense of confidence, safety and security."

Lawley encourages anyone interested in becoming educated in personal safety to sign up and take part. "The course is for anyone and everyone. There are no limits regarding age, size, gender, or level of fitness."

Lawley and his training team, made up of fellow officers and professional trainers, have dedicated thousands of hours to empowering citizens and providing a fun learning environment that has real-world skills with immediate benefits.

“Hard Target has definitely been one of the highlights of my career," explains Lawley. "The experiences of seeing an idea grow into reality with remarkable support from the EPS and ultimately the great feedback from participants has been rewarding, especially since we have shared the concept of Hard Target with so many people.”

The Downtown Division community liaison team are holding this special edition of the Hard Target Personal Safety Seminar for donations to Santas Anonymous.

" This one day seminar will be held for a minimum donation of a gift for Santas Anonymous," says Lawley.  “Every little bit counts.”

For further information on the course, please use the link: http://www.hardtarget.ca/

Background:

The Edmonton Police Service started Hard Target in 2011 as a stand-alone initiative designed to inform citizens about Edmonton’s most common crime types; it provides background and prevention education on typically reported crimes, providing a sense of proportion in matters of victimization as it relates to offences often reported in popular media.

During the month of November, EPS Northeast Division Neighbourhood Foot Patrol officers have received two similar reports within a 10 block radius of 40 Street and 114 Avenue.  In both of the incidents, it was reported that a male suspect allegedly peered into the bedroom window of a residence while women were present between the hours of 9 and 11 p.m.  The residents were alerted when they heard noise outside their windows, and the suspect fled.

The suspect is described as male, with an average build and height, between 20 to 30-years-old, and wearing dark clothing.  The male has been seen on foot and on a bicycle.

“This is concerning and disturbing, because we do not know what the suspect’s motives are,” says EPS Const. Blumhagen with Northeast Division.  “We want people to take the appropriate precautions, and to report any similar incidents to us as soon as possible.”

Police ask residents in the area to be attentive to unfamiliar persons in their neighbourhood, to look out for their neighbours, and to report any suspicious activity to police as soon as possible.  Residents are also encouraged to ensure their residences are secure, well lit with exterior lighting, and that window blinds are closed at night.

The EPS is asking for the public’s help in locating the male.  Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone.  Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.  To report a crime in progress, please call 9-1-1.

The Edmonton Police Service and EMS responded to a call for help at the building and found a 54-year-old conscious and breathing male in need of medical attention. The male was treated and taken to hospital by EMS, but later died. The cause of the death is still being determined. 

Police investigations to date reveal the male appeared to have injuries consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle. The investigation is still in the preliminary stage.

The Major Collision Investigative Section is assisting Downtown Division Detectives with the investigation.

Police are looking to identify the helpful citizen as he may have pertinent information to assist in the investigation. He is described as possibly in his 20's, about 5'10" tall, average build, and short dark hair. He was wearing blue jeans, black runners with light coloured soles, and a multi-coloured ski jacket with bright yellow down one sleeve.

The EPS is asking for the public’s help in locating the helpful citizen.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone.  Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

Downtown Division patrol officers responded to a pedestrian hit and run call at 1:30 a.m. in the area of 102 Street and 105 Avenue.

A 25-year-old male had been reportedly struck by a white van which fled the scene. The male pedestrian sustained life-threatening injuries and remains in critical condition.

The van was subsequently located without the driver.

The investigation is being led by the Major Collision Investigation Section.

Anyone who has knowledge about this crime is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

“Domestic violence is a serious crime, and we must be vigilant as family members, neighbours and community leaders to step forward and protect people by reporting these incidents to police,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Armstrong, of the EPS Domestic Offender Crime Section (DOCS).

While the number of incidents reported to EPS declined by 2 per cent between January and October (2012 vs. 2013), DOCS’ saw a 16 per cent increase in the cases of a more serious nature that they investigated.

“Whether it’s a neighbour you meet at the community mailbox or the parent of a child you might coach in minor sports, as a caring society we can’t become complacent,” said Armstrong, whose funding request for two additional investigators is one component to the EPS’s overall annual 2014 budget currently before council. “We all have to trust our instincts and make the call. You might be the last line of defence for someone who is being victimized and in a horrific life situation.”

The EPS initially launched the “Speak Out” campaign in November 2012, as a way of empowering the community to report potential incidents of domestic violence, in an attempt to reduce violence to people at risk, a key pillar of the service’s Violence Reduction Strategy.

The EPS Domestic Offender Crimes Section includes:

• Detectives with specialized training in intimate partner violence
• Constable and Social Worker team that work in domestic violence  courtrooms to assist victims of intimate partner violence
• Constable and Social Worker teams to work with victims of intimate partner violence
• Victim Support Constables in each EPS division that follow up on domestic violence incidents

To view the 15-second “Speak Out” commercial, visit "Speak Out!" . A photo of one of the billboard advertisements is included below. The campaign will begin airing today, Tuesday, Dec.3, 2013, on Global Edmonton TV. The campaign also includes a print component, which will appear at LRT stations and on billboards across the Greater Edmonton region, as well as in restaurant and lounge washrooms across the city.

With more holiday parties scheduled this month, police encourage the public to plan ahead to ensure everyone arrives at their destination safely.

“Before going out, make sure you assign a designated driver, plan to take public transit or a taxi to ensure you get home safely,” says Staff Sgt. Ted Hrebien. “Citizens are also making their safety a priority by calling 911 to Curb the Danger when they suspect an impaired driver on our city streets.”

For the month of November 2013, there were 636 calls from the public to report suspected impaired drivers, which resulted in 202 intercepts, 57 impaired charges, 11 24-hour suspensions, and 53 letters sent to the registered vehicle owners because police could not intercept the vehicle. 

So far in 2013, there have been a total of 7,804 calls into Curb the Danger, 2,611 intercepts, 700 impaired charges, 182 24-hour suspensions, and 816 letters sent to the registered vehicle owners.

Since it’s inception in 2006, Curb the Danger has received 61,288 calls from the public, sent 9,551 letters to vehicle owners, successfully intercepted 20,464 vehicles, arrested 5,857 impaired drivers and suspended 1,844 of them.

The EPS provides updated Curb the Danger numbers each month.

Signs that could indicate an impaired driver:

• unreasonably fast or slow speeds or inconsistent speeds;
• frequent lane changes or swerving when passing;
• ignoring traffic signals and signs;
• approaching traffic signals and signs unreasonably fast or slow;
• sitting at stop signs for long periods of time;
• jerky starts and stops;
• driving too close to the curbs and shoulders; hugging the edge of the road or straddling the center line;
• driving at night without lights; or,
• driving with the windows down in cold weather.

If you see a suspected impaired driver:

• Call 9-1-1 and report the incident immediately. Under Bill 16 of the Distracted Driving legislation, drivers are permitted to use hand-held devices to contact 9-1-1 emergency services.  
• Take note of the location;
• Report the license plate number as well as the vehicle description; and
• If possible, keep the vehicle in sight, but do not attempt to chase the vehicle or break the law in order to stay close.

If a patrol car is not able to intercept the vehicle, the EPS may send a letter to the registered owner telling them that their vehicle was spotted being operated erratically.

For more information, visit www.edmontonpolice.ca/curbthedanger.

Stanley Vincent James Shawyer, 36, has been charged with first degree murder and damage by fire of the Criminal Code.Shawyer turned himself in at the Surrey, BC RCMP Detachment on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013. 

Woehrle’s body was found by Edmonton Fire Rescue Services after dousing a residential fire in the area of 129 Street and 117 Avenue back on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.

The Medical Examiner determined Woehrle’s manner of death to be homicide. The cause of death has not been released.

Thaven Philip Gardiner, 38,was earlier charged in Woehrle's death with first degree murder and damage by fire on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, while in Kelowna, BC.

The accused, Shawyer, will appear before a Provincial Court Judge in BC where he will be remanded and returned to Edmonton, AB to face the charges. 

EPS Homicide Section continues to investigate Woehrle’s death.

Anyone who has information about this crime is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

To avoid being the target of thieves, police have some simple tips:

• Track your package and know when it should arrive so that you can arrange to have someone at home on delivery day.
• Ask a trusted neighbour if the package can be delivered to them if they will be home during the day.
• If neither of these options is available, you can arrange to have your packages left at the post office where you can pick them up safe and sound.

“Leaving a package in a mailbox or on your doorstep all day is the perfect target for a thief who can ruin your holiday season in less than a minute,” explains West Division Const. Terri Lynn Smith.  

To avoid having your home targeted this holiday seasons, police also recommend:

• Not displaying your presents – this includes not putting the boxes your gifts came outside waiting for the garbage to be picked up. These boxes will give thieves a clue about what valuables are inside the home.
• Watch out for each other. Keep an eye out on your neighbour’s property and ask them to do the same.
• While many of us don’t like snow, it does help to show suspicious footprints around your home which might be an indication that someone is seeking to target your home for theft.
• As always, report any suspicious activity to police.

If you are going on vacation this holiday season:

• Ensure your home looks occupied.
• Have someone clean your sidewalks and pick up your mail while you are away.
• Cancel or hold your newspaper subscription.
• Close your curtains and set lights on timers.

“It’s also important to remember, no matter how excited you are to be going on holiday, don’t advertise that you’ll be away on social media,” add Const. Smith. “You’re just telling the whole world that your home is a perfect target.”

Police will be out in force at Checkstop locations and roving patrols across the city looking for impaired drivers.  While the Checkstop program is aimed at detecting impaired drivers and removing them from the road, a large component is aimed at educating the public of the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving.

“Approximately 70,000 Canadians are injured or killed in impaired driving collisions each year,” says Sgt. Conrad Moschansky with the EPS Impaired Driving Countermeasures Unit.  “Impaired driving is a careless and avoidable act that police take very seriously, and as a community we need to keep the message out there that it’s unacceptable.  We need friends, family and other drivers to look out for one another, and help people make responsible choices.  Remind people to drive sober, or if they are planning to have a few drinks, encourage them to take a cab, or a bus, or make other arrangements to get home safely.  And, if you see an impaired driver, please contact police.  Let’s all have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.”

In Edmonton in 2012, there were a total of 2,213 impaired driving charges and 1,314 roadside suspensions.  So far in 2013, there have been 1,697 impaired driving charges and 766 separate roadside suspensions.  In Edmonton this year, impaired driving was a factor in 15 per cent of serious injury collisions and 33 per cent of fatal collisions.

The Checkstop program enhances other EPS impaired driving enforcement efforts such as Target All Drunk Drivers (police mobile enforcement near entertainment areas) and Curb the Danger (citizens reporting impaired drivers by calling 911), and helps to make Edmonton’s streets safe for all citizens.

If you suspect a driver is impaired, please contact police as soon as possible to Curb the Danger:

• Call 911 if it is safe to do so.  Calling 911 in an emergency, or to report an impaired driver, is permitted while driving under the distracted driving law.
• Report the location, vehicle description, and licence plate number.
• Keep the vehicle in sight but do not attempt to chase the vehicle, or break the law to do so.

For more information on EPS traffic safety and enforcement initiatives, please visit www.edmontonpolice.ca.

Downtown Division patrol officers responded to a pedestrian hit-and-run collision at 1:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 2, 2013 in the area of 102 Street and 105 Avenue. The critically injured male, from Wabasca, AB, was treated and transferred to hospital with life-threratening injuries. He died three days later.

Southwest patrol members responded to four calls involving two retirement homes since Monday, Nov. 25, 2013; the first in the Garneau area, the second in the neighbourhood of Glastonbury.

In the most recent incident that occurred at approximately 1 p.m. today, the suspect claimed to be the grandson of a resident, in an attempt to gain access to the building. In the Nov. 25th incident, it is alleged the suspect posed as a maintenance man and gained access to a 95-year-old resident’s suite, where a cabinet was broken into and items stolen.

Surveillance video footage obtained from both locations show the same male suspect leaving each building. The suspect is described as being a Caucasian male in his mid-20s, 5’ 7” tall, about 160 pounds with short, brown hair. He was wearing dark jeans, an olive-coloured Burton ski jacket and black toque.

Anyone that can help police identify this suspect is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone.  Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

On Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 police responded to a call of a child left unattended in a vehicle just before 8 a.m. at the South Edmonton Common shopping centre. When police arrived, they observed an eight-year-old girl in the rear seat of the vehicle. The hood of the car and interior of the car were reported to be cold to the touch as the weather was around -8 C.

Police had the girl unlock the vehicle and placed her in the warm patrol car.

It was reported that the girl had been left alone in the vehicle for a lengthy period of time. The child told police she left the vehicle at one point to look for her mother in the store but returned to the vehicle when she was unable to locate her.

“Although the young girl was dressed appropriately for winter weather conditions, the vehicle had substantially cooled down,” says Const. Kamlesh Patel with Southeast Division. “A vehicle is not a babysitter. Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle goes beyond the weather conditions, whether it is a cold winter day or hot summer day. The safety and well-being of a child should always be the priority.”

Subsequent investigations indicate that the mother had allegedly left the child unattended in the vehicle for over an hour and was charged with causing a child to be in need of intervention under the Child, Youth and Family Act.

The front counter at Summerlea will be open to the public from 8 a.m. until 8p.m. seven days a week.

Citizens can also report a number of crimes such as minor damage to property, minor damage to a vehicle, lost property, theft from a vehicle under $5,000 and theft of property under $5,000 online at www.edmontonpolice.ca.

The traditional hijab is worn by some Muslim women as an outward expression of religious and cultural identity.  The hijab covers the head and neck, but not the face.  While there are different interpretations on the meaning and practice of hijab, the EPS respects a Muslim woman’s choice to wear the headscarf.

The EPS does not currently have any members or applicants requesting to wear the hijab.  However, to be proactive the EPS uniform guidelines have been updated to better reflect the changing diversity in the community, and to facilitate the growing interest in policing careers from Edmonton’s Muslim community.

The EPS Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Unit, and the Chief’s Muslim Community Liaison Committee, conducted community consultation and research into how the police could be more inclusive and representative in this manner without impacting service.

As there were no police-issued hijabs readily available, the EPS Equity, Diversity and Human Rights Unit, and the EPS Tactics Training Unit developed a prototype with the assistance of a hijab tailor.  The headscarf was designed to be simple, unobtrusive, and easily removed.  After rigorous testing, it was determined that the headscarf did not pose any risk to the officer wearing it, or reduce officer effectiveness, nor interfere with police duties or public interactions.

The hijab prototype met the requirements of Occupational Health and Safety, and the professional standards of EPS Dress and Deportment.  The EPS Chief’s Committee approved the police-issued hijab and the necessary Uniform Policy changes.  These changes have also been supported by members of Edmonton’s Muslim community.

The Edmonton Police Service continues to change with the times, as have a number of police, justice and military organizations in western nations that have already modified their uniforms to accommodate the hijab.

As protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the EPS considers any special religious or cultural requests by officers or the community, to determine if they meet reasonable accommodation requirements.  The EPS responds with a fair, consistent, and respectful approach to try to meet these diverse needs wherever possible.

EPS Superintendent Kevin Galvin, representing the Chief’s Muslim Community Liaison Committee, says “Regardless of race, culture, religion, or sexual orientation, it is important that anyone who has a calling to serve and protect Edmontonians, and passes the rigorous recruitment and police training standards, feel welcome and included in the EPS.”

Model Wearing EPS Uniform with Hijab Headscarf Option

Southwest Division investigators have filed warrants for forgery (x2), unlawfully in a dwelling and mischief against Preston Lee Carpenter, 29, who was last seen in the Connors Road area on the city’s south side.

Police believe Carpenter is responsible for targeting residents for theft at two retirement homes in the city, by impersonating family members and maintenance repair personnel in order to gain access to their suites.

Anyone that can help police locate Carpenter is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone.  Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

Background:

Southwest patrol members responded to four calls involving two retirement homes since Monday, Nov. 25, 2013; the first in the Garneau area, the second in the neighbourhood of Glastonbury.

In the most recent incident that occurred at approximately 1 p.m. on Dec. 5, the suspect claimed to be the grandson of a resident, in an attempt to gain access to the building. In the Nov. 25 incident, it is alleged the suspect posed as a maintenance man and gained access to a 95-year-old resident’s suite, where a cabinet was broken into and items stolen.

The arrest is the result of an extensive investigation involving the Edmonton Police Service, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the Calgary Police Service.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, the suspect was arrested by the CBSA with the assistance of the CPS at the Calgary International Airport, after arriving in Canada on an international flight.

Marcel Cristian Niculae, 20, has been charged with second degree murder.  The accused has been remanded.

The victim was identified by police as Jon Syah Ribut, 35, and was originally from Indonesia and in Edmonton on a temporary basis.

Anyone with information that may be helpful to the investigation is asked to contact the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567or #377 from a mobile phone.  Anonymous information can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.

Background:
EPS West Division Patrol officers responded to a “trouble not known” call at a motel in the area of 154 Street and 111 Avenue at approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013.  Police found the body of a deceased male in a motel room.  The Medical Examiner identified the male, and determined that he died of blunt force trauma.  EPS Homicide Section detectives investigated and found that the victim was involved in the sex trade.  Police released the male’s photo and asked for tips from the public in the event that he may have been known by a different name.

Detective Thomas Wilson, a 25 year member with the EPS has been charged with assault under Section 266 of the Criminal Code of Canada. This relates to a matter that occurred in April of 2011 between the accused and an EPS subordinate.

This charge follows an investigation by the EPS Professional Standards Branch which was subsequently reviewed by Alberta Justice.

The detective has been relieved from duty without pay as a result of this charge, and another unrelated internal incident that is currently under investigation by the EPS.

As this matter is before the courts, we cannot comment on the file until the legal proceedings have concluded.

The Cadets will use their own personal money to purchase toys at Toys R Us. A photo opportunity will also be available:  

Toys R Us
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
13029 – 97 Street

“Each year, the Cadets exchange gifts amongst themselves,” notes Cadet Coordinator Cst. Shannon Tenney. “This year, they decided to buy gifts for Santas Anonymous instead.”

Constable Tenney will accompany 45 cadets on the shopping trip.

Background

Edmonton Police Cadet Program

The Edmonton Police Service Cadet program is open to youth ages 13 – 20 who have an interest in pursuing a career in Law Enforcement and who want to make a difference in their community today.  

Police Cadets meet each Wednesday from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. from September through June. 

Following the structure of the Edmonton Police Service, Police Cadets follow a paramilitary structure requiring students to follow regimental protocols including parades, drills and a defined rank structure. 

Basic Requirements 

• Undergo a screening process which includes an Enhanced Police Information Check, which will include immediate family members and residents of their households 12 years and older, and an interview.
• Reside in Edmonton or the surrounding communities.
• Attendance at all scheduled and mandatory Cadet functions.
• Complete a minimum of 20 hours of volunteer service toward Edmonton Police Service functions and/or events.
• As representatives of the Edmonton Police Service good ethical character is fundamental. Those accepted into the program are expected to maintain a high level of integrity.

Costs

• A yearly registration fee of $250.  

Application Deadline: May 31, 2014. 

For more information email: cadets@edmontonpolice.ca or phone 780.421.3555

On Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 around 1:20 p.m. police conducted a traffic stop involving a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner in the area of 12 Avenue and 101 Street SW, when members observed what appeared to be stolen property in the vehicle. A search warrant was executed and police obtained numerous property items still in its original packaging with tags attached from local big box retailers.

Items seized include small kitchen appliances, door locks, home security system, power tools and other household items as well as a functioning Street Wise SW700 stun gun.  Various drugs were also located in the vehicle including 12g of methamphetamine, 250 various prescription pills, one gram of crack cocaine, one liter of GHB as well as cell phones, and other drug paraphernalia.

Jennifer Adshead, 24 and Amy Hogg, 32 were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property, possession of a restricted weapon, fail to comply with probation order and fail to comply with a recognizance.