Edmonton police chief backs anonymity for murder victims

Edmonton police Chief Rod Knecht said he feels "pretty comfortable" with the decision made by his police force in mid-January to withhold the names of some homicide victims.

There have been 17 homicides in Edmonton to date in 2017. EPS has refused to release the victim's names in eight of those cases.  

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Until four months ago, it was very rare for Edmonton Police to withhold the name of a homicide victim. Knecht said the new approach is the result of consultations with the department's legal advisers and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) department.  

"The lawyers say maybe we were a little loose with it before and we've got to tighten it up," Knecht said.  
"We've talked to the FOIP people who tell us specifically the Edmonton Police Service were maybe a little loose in providing names."

Knecht says EPS is on the right track

"I think that grey is becoming more black and white as time goes on," he said.

Calgary police and the RCMP take the opposite approach to Edmonton.

All municipal police forces in the province are governed by the same provincial privacy legislation. The RCMP follows federal laws.  

But the interpretation of the laws taken by other police forces is now markedly different.

Calgary police said they always release the names of homicide victims. According to a spokesperson, that's long been their practice "because there is such compelling public interest."

The RCMP also recently decided to release the names of homicide victims. "We try to get those names out there," Sgt. Jack Poitras told CBC News. "It's a concern for the citizens when heinous crimes occur that they are informed and they're aware."

Knecht is aware of the divide. CBC asked if he would characterize the situation as EPS taking the correct path, while the other two forces have it wrong.  

"Well, I would never say Calgary police or the RCMP are doing it wrong," he said. "You can talk to three different lawyers and sometimes get three different opinions ... We should all be singing from the same song sheet."

Knecht wants province-wide policy

Knecht said he wants to reach a common approach with the other departments.

He planned to speak to the head of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police this week. The AACP is led by Medicine Hat police Chief Andy McGrogan.

Last week, a spokesperson for the Medicine Hat police force told CBC about its policy in an emailed statement.

"Whenever possible, the MHPS will consult with the family of the victim and if the family consents to the release, then the name will be released to the public," Rita Sittler said.  

"If the family has requested that the name is withheld, the MHPS will typically accommodate this request."   

Sittler added that out of the eight homicides recorded in Medicine Hat over the past five years, all eight victims' names were released with the consent of the families.

Now Chief Knecht will ask Chief McGrogan to arrange a session for all chiefs in the province.

"We might have a teleconference or something to that effect, because I think it's important that we come together on this," Knecht said. "Probably sooner rather than later."

Knecht thought the teleconference could be aimed at getting lawyers for all the departments to begin working towards a consistent interpretation of privacy legislation.  

"We should have one policy so you folks aren't confused; the public isn't confused and, quite frankly, our police officers aren't confused either," he told members of the media at an availability session Monday morning,   

But in his message to the media, Knecht left himself some breathing room.

"I'm not suggesting that we have it absolutely right," he said.  

"I think you should continue to challenge us. We just want to make sure we are getting it right and we are respectful of all parties."