Lawyers Group Wants a Criminal Probe of Edmonton’s Top Cop

Tyee’s Charles Rusnell follows up on the fall out from Edmonton Police Service’s Chief Warren Driechel, and his office’s notorious attempt to publicly pressure the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service and the Criminal Justice System.

Certainly, the article deserves a read because the Chief’s actions in the Rattlesnake case are characterized as “institutional combat”. I’d highlight that the Americans are very familiar with this, because some of their states elect District Attorneys, Sheriffs, and Judges. The US invites this “public brinksmanship” to pit institutions and the public against one another for fame and votes. And, if this is what Chief Driechel wishes to introduce to Alberta, he can always resign now and seek work in the US.

Driechel’s actions have damaged the Criminal Justice system’s core principles, and institutions. Albertans should remember that two senior Crown Prosecutors were terminated, and Justice Minister Mickey Amery denied any involvement in that decision. Also, Premier Danielle Smith publicly supported Driechel, and it’s unclear what her involvement was in yet another assault on Alberta’s institutions.