Justice officials to get tough with cop attackers

Alberta Justice is considering changes to the way it prosecutes those who assault police officers, in response to concerns raised by Edmonton's police chief this week, a department official said Tuesday.

David Dear, spokesman for the department, told CBC News they are looking at having one prosecutor handle all cases to ensure offenders are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

"The Criminal Code does call for up to a five-year penalty, five years in jail for a person convicted of swarming or assaulting a police officer," said Dear.

He said prosecutors who specialize in handling drunk-driving offences, for example, have been more effective in getting stiffer penalties.

Harsher sentences would send a clear message to people that assaults on police will not be tolerated, Dear said.

On Monday, Edmonton police Chief Mike Boyd angrily complained about two recent attacks on officers.

The first, on Saturday, saw two officers jumped, punched and kicked by several people when they tried to break up a fight outside a downtown bar.

The second occurred Monday outside Eastglen High School in northeast Edmonton, where a man beat a police constable unconscious with a baseball bat.

The constables were not seriously injured, but Boyd warned the city would not tolerate attacks on its police officers.

Staff Sgt. Pete Ratcliffe, with the Edmonton Police Association, agreed Alberta Justice needs to deal more severely with assaults on police officers.

"In the course of your duties you're going to get spat on, sworn at," said Ratcliffe.

But he said his members are seeing an escalating level of violence and they deserve more attention from the courts to stem the tide.