Edmonton names new police chief

The Edmonton Police Service has tapped St. Albert native Dale McFee to head EPS beginning in February 2019 on a five-year contract.

The new police chief has over two decades of service with his most recent post as the deputy minister of policing and corrections in Saskatchewan. The role of chief is familiar to McFee as he successfully lead the Prince Albert Police Service to become the most culturally representative in Canada during his tenure with a 38 per cent Aboriginal workforce.

“Diversity isn’t just race, it isn’t just gender. It’s thinking and it’s all the above,” McFee said speaking to reporters Wednesday. “We need to be diverse right across the system so we actually reflect the population but also reflect what the solutions are. And so that’s what I intend to learn more about.”

McFee replaces outgoing chief Rod Knecht and will become the 23rd man to fill the role.

Edmonton Police Association president Michael Elliott said McFee’s experience with police associations and commissions was a big asset in determining he was the best candidate for the role.

“We look forward to working with the new chief to turn the page and start a new chapter,” Elliott said. “We like the fact that, coming from Prince Albert he’s familiar with associations, working with commissions, working with city council.”

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