Edmonton Police Service
16505 100 Ave NW T5P 4X9 Edmonton, AB, Canada

[EPS Member Highlight] Meet Patricia Dvorak! "I loved it from the start," she said. "I loved training going through the 21-week recruit training... as soo...n as I got on the street, it was just that much better everything I wanted it to be. Dvorak recounts her first position with EPS as a patrol officer for NE Division. Soon, Dvorak was working patrol in the Beverly area, which allowed her to train in many other areas of policing, and also led to her co-founding the EPS' annual Bike Safety Festival in 2010 with her partner. A graduate from the Policing studies program at MacEwan University, Dvorak has been a member of the Edmonton Police Service since 2003; with experience working in EPS tactics training unit, and a promotion to the professional standards branch, before her most recent secondment as a detective with ASIRT (a government agency responsible for investigating all criminal matters involving police). I never thought I would be where I am said Dvorak, "I always had it in my head that I would be a police officer, but for me at that point (graduation) all I could see was the front-line patrol and responding to calls. I don't think I realized what an opportunity the EPS was able to provide me. I always tell that to people. Yes, there are the front-line calls for service and that's the backbone of any police service, but if you have specialty interests there's something for everybody. From a leading scorer of the Griffins women’s soccer team, circa 1994, and involvement as a star-competitive swimmer, working for EPS has allowed Dvorak to retain her love of team sport with EPS. "We have an Alberta female police soccer team," explained Dvorak. "It's EPS, Calgary police and some RCMP. Every year, minus COVID, we go to the North American Police Soccer tournament. We've (also) gone to the World Police & Fire Games." She's enjoying the chance to continue playing the sport she loves even if she admits she's no longer the marquee goal scorer on her team. "I'm more of the playmaker if you get me the ball I'll get it back to you," she said with a laugh. "The girls I play with on our police soccer team are all much younger than I am. So, I bring the experience. Quotations provided by Patricia Dvorak & Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics - Edmonton, AB. #womeninpolicing #joineps #yegcareer

Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 a light-coloured Cadillac Escalade SUV (AB license plate RAA-323)was reportedly driving eastbound on 100 Avenue in in the area of 154 Street when it struck a black Kia Soul that was driving in the opposite direction. The SUV then fled the scene. Moments later a witness reported observing the Escalade in the area of 97 Avenue and 154 Street where it reportedly also struck a light standard before driving off. Officers continue to s...earch for the vehicle and driver and are asking anyone with information to contact the EPS. The Cadillac Escalade is described as a late model, light-coloured (cream or beige), with four doors and was overall in very clean condition. It will likely have damage to the front grill and front driver’s side corner. Anyone with information can contact the EPS non-emergency line at 780-423-4567 or #311 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250

At the end of August, a post on this page told the story of a ‘nice catch’ in West Division after a member of the public came across a break and enter in progress to a grocery store on 170 Street and called 9-1-1. Last night one of our members made another one worth writing about! Around 8:00 P.M., a vehicle with a burnt-out headlight was observed near the station on 100 Ave. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver found to have outstanding warrants. He was arrested an...d a licence plate was found inside his vehicle. After a few investigative steps, it was determined a garage had just been broken into a relatively short distance away but not yet reported. All the items stolen from the break-in were found inside the vehicle. Property from a different theft was also recovered. The male was processed for a number of new charges as well as the outstanding ones that formed the grounds for his initial arrest. As often happens in police work, one little thing leads to others and just like pulling a stray thread on a blanket, things can unravel to reveal a larger picture. This is an example of the good work members do with their proactive time. Activities such as this are a staple of good police work and regularly result in arrests being made and property returned to victims of crime.

EPS and partners conduct sweep of North Saskatchewan shoreline: The Edmonton Police Service and several of its partnering organizations will be conducting a swe...ep of the North Saskatchewan River shoreline today, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, in an effort to locate any unreported/reported missing persons and/or potential human remains Led by the EPS Missing Persons Unit, this initiative will utilize flight and ground operations from the EPS Flight Operations Section (Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems), RCMP (helicopter), Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, City of Edmonton Park Rangers, as well as the Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta. "This is an initiative that takes place each year when the water levels start to fall," says Sgt. John Smith with the EPS Missing Persons Unit. "This is a proactive deployment that utilizes specialized equipment from EPS and our partners, focusing on the primary river artery that travels throughout our city." The search commences at the EPS boat launch, located near the EPCOR water treatment facility, and will stretch east and west along the river’s shoreline. http://dlvr.it/Rj7RP2

Local legitimate businesses phone numbers are being spoofed to set up service calls for fake businesses promising furnace and duct cleaning. The fraudulent co...mpany sets up fake business profiles on social media sites, like Facebook, to make them appear to be a local business. The fraudulent individuals book an appointment but when they show up to do the work, they are not the business they were expecting, but rather a business called Kalair Home Services Inc. out of Ontario. The truck is not properly equipped to do the work and the victims are left with an improperly cleaned furnace/ ducts. This business does not have a business licence. Citizens should not let these individuals into their homes. A real business should be able to provide a license and proper credentials upon request.

https://www.edmontonpolice.ca//SuccessS/CommitmenttoAction

Today, Chief Dale McFee announced a commitment to action by the Edmonton Police Service to engage with the city’s Black, Indigenous, racialized, and underserve...d communities in improving policing, and reimagining community safety and well-being. The new strategy acknowledges current community concerns and calls for change, addresses racial injustice, and advocates for the need to work collectively to build, strengthen and repair police-community relationships. Today we begin a new chapter... this is not a listening campaign... this is a process to create and build community relationships, said Chief Dale McFee. As the world changes around us... we are committed to action. To all the communities, we are here to protect and serve. A special thank you to the Edmonton Police Association and the Edmonton Police Commission for helping to make this happen. For more information, visit www.epsinput.ca.

The daily call log showed a number of property crimes over the past 24 hours, some of which may be related. Two skid steers were stolen with one of which was recovered by our TRAP Team nearby (pink circles on the map). The TRAP team is a special unit focusing on theft of vehicles. Also, several fenced compounds were broken into and trailers and sheds entered (black triangles on map). The Secord neighbourhood also saw three construction sites hit by thieves. Two sites had u...nderground cables were cut and stolen (not on map). Please be aware and report suspicious activity.

Traffic Tip: Know what to do when you see an emergency vehicle? Look in your rear view mirror to see what vehicle is approaching you from behind. Signal and M...ove to the right to make room for the emergency vehicle to pass. Stop and make sure all emergency vehicles have passed. Signal and merge back into traffic when it is safe to do so.

Sometimes equipment purchases are about doing our job more safely, sometimes it is about doing it better. Sometimes innovation allows us to hit both of these objectives plus various others. Here is an example.

Charges laid in series of Edmonton and area commercial break-and-enters: The Edmonton Police Service has charged two individuals in relation to a series of comm...ercial break-and-enters in Edmonton and the surrounding areas. Between July 24 and Sept. 1, 2020, the EPS and RCMP responded to more than 55 early morning commercial break-and-enters in Edmonton and surrounding areas. It was reported to police that one or more suspects were targeting neighbouring small businesses in strip malls throughout this time period, including businesses in southwest, southeast and west Edmonton and businesses in Acheson and Leduc, AB. The suspects reportedly broke into the businesses through the front doors, stole cash and other retail items and then fled the scene in a light coloured SUV. To date, investigators believe more than $5000 in cash and goods has been stolen, including beverages, food, haircare products, pet products, gift cards, a computer, cash registers and debit machines. In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, officers spotted the vehicle at a gas station in southwest Edmonton. Working closely with the Leduc RCMP, the vehicles occupants were then later observed committing a break-and-enter to a business in Leduc, AB. The two occupants of the vehicle, a male and a female, were subsequently taken into custody without incident and remanded. Cody Caldwell, 36, is charged with break-and-enter (x32) and Ayla Armstrong, 31, is also charged with break-and-enter. Additional charges are pending against both suspects. The EPS would like to thank the Leduc and Parkland RCMP for their assistance with this investigation. http://dlvr.it/RgDXwT

Charges laid, police seeking second suspect in September 2 homicide: One male is charged and another is wanted on warrants in connection to the murder of a 15-y...ear-old male earlier this week. Today, Sept. 4, 2020, the Edmonton Medical Examiner completed an autopsy on the 15-year-old male, who was found fatally injured in a northwest Edmonton parking lot on Sept. 2, 2020. The manner of death has been confirmed to be homicide, and the cause of death was sharp force injury. On Sept. 2, 2020, Bradley Michael Edward Almas, 21, was arrested and has since been charged with second degree murder. Today, Sept. 4, 2020, a warrant for second degree murder was issued for the arrest of Bradley Clifford Leland, 23 (also known as Bradley Durocher) in connection to the death. Leland is believed to be in the Edmonton area, and police are seeking public assistance in locating him. He is believed to be dangerous and should not be approached. Police do not believe the victim was known to the two accused. Wanted for second degree murder: Bradley Clifford Leland AKA Bradley Durocher, 23 Investigators are also hoping to speak with an unidentified male who was with the victim at the time of the incident. This male may have sustained non-life threatening injuries, fled the scene and has not been located. Anyone with information about either the whereabouts of Leland or any information about the unidentified male witness is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250. Background At approximately 6 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, Northwest Division officers responded to a call for assistance from Fire Rescue Services at a commercial address near 136 Avenue and 97 Street. Upon arrival, officers located a male in medical distress on the ground in a nearby hotel parking lot. Paramedics treated and transported the male to hospital with life-threatening injuries, where he later succumbed to his injuries. http://dlvr.it/Rg0c9D

Major Collision officers investigate fatality on Groat Road: Police continue to investigate the death of a 46-year-old motorcycle rider involved in a collision ...on Groat Road earlier today, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Just before 3 p.m., police were notified of a collision that occurred between a motorcycle and a truck on Groat Road, just south of 107 Avenue. It was reported that a motorcycle was traveling northbound on Groat Road when the male operator lost control and struck a center barrier. The male subsequently travelled over the barrier into an oncoming truck, travelling southbound on Groat Road. The man was pronounced deceased on scene by paramedics. The driver of the truck did not report any injuries. Police have not laid any charges in this collision. The investigation continues. Investigators are asking anyone with dash cam video of the collision to contact police. http://dlvr.it/RfkSd2

The temperature is dropping but there are still lots of people riding bikes. There are also a lot of people stealing them! The Bike Index is a great tool to help us locate stolen bikes. Here is some advice on how to avoid buying a stolen one.

Often, when a member of the division makes an arrest, squadmates will give them a "Nice catch!" comment as they see them in the report room. In many of these cases, the "Nice catch" started with a member of the public seeing something happening and calling us to come deal with it. This was one of those circumstances so "Nice catch" to all those involved whether or not they wear a uniform.

Sometimes that quick stop at the convenience store takes longer, and has bigger consequences, than you had thought!

On Friday of last week, Supt. Ed McIsaac retired after 35 years with the Edmonton Police Service. This short video recounts one of the many events where he made a lasting impact.

Here is the crime map for the past seven days. There has been a number of residential break-ins in the northeast portion of the division. Also, there is a city-wide trend of commercial break-ins. One of the other patrol divisions is coordinating that investigation, pursuing forensic evidence options. Vehicle related thefts (theft of vehicle contents and theft of licence plates) continues to be driving our property crime numbers. Removing items from your vehicles and using tamper resistant screws for licence plates can help mitigate this crime.

Charge laid in Lisa Arsenault homicide: The Edmonton Police Service has charged a 32-year-old male in relation to the May 24th murder of Lisa Arsenault. As a r...esult of public tips, Ian Stewart Gainer, 32, of Camrose, Alberta was arrested yesterday afternoon, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. He has since been charged with first degree murder. The EPS would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance with this investigation. The Camrose Police Service also provided invaluable assistance in the investigation. Background: On Sunday, May 24, 2020, at approximately 8 p.m., Southeast Division patrol members responded to a call at a motel near 38 Avenue and Gateway Boulevard. Upon arrival, officers found a deceased female inside one of the motel suites. On Friday, May 29, 2020, the Edmonton Medical Examiner completed an autopsy and confirmed the deceased woman was 48-year-old Lisa Arsenault. Autopsy results are still pending regarding the cause of Lisa Arsenaults death, though the manner of death has been confirmed as homicide. On Thursday, June 11, 2020, the Edmonton Police Service released surveillance images of a person of interest who was seen walking outside of the motel where Arsenault was murdered. A composite sketch, a video clip and images related to a suspect and a vehicle were also released to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. http://dlvr.it/Rf5YWQ

Staff at West Division pooled some money and bought coffee mugs for the workers at the Misericordia who are facing the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic head-on. They walk into the danger zone every day so we thought they should at least have a new coffee mug as they do it!

Between August 12-18, 15 licence plates were stolen in West Division. Sometimes the thieves will put replace the plate they are stealing with another stolen plate hoping the owner doesn't notice they have the wrong plate and therefor don't report theirs as missing. Remember your plate number and check every day!

Please take a moment to review this information on an open homicide investigation. We are seeking to identify the male in the video.

It seems the tables have been turned! One of our Stony Plain Road beat officers found himself on the receiving end of a traffic stop. I have not heard about any enforcement action though.

On parade today, four members of West Division received the Award of Merit. On March 10, 2020 at round 7:30 A.M., a carjacking occurred when a male with a long-barreled weapon approached a woman as she was loading her young daughter into a vehicle. Upon being confronted, the woman was able to get her daughter from the vehicle and call police as the suspect fled with her vehicle. A member arrived at the scene and as he was speaking to the complainant, the vehicle was seen pas...sing on a nearby street. The member returned to his vehicle and alerted other units in the area. Not long after the vehicle was located, the driver lost control at a corner and struck a tree. The vehicle was disabled and a foot pursuit began. With three members running after the suspect through a school yard, another arrived and cut off his route. The suspect who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant was taken into custody after complying with the direction of the members. This was a dangerous and dynamic event brought to a successful conclusion by members working as an effective team. Good work by and all and certainly deserving of recognition. Here is a photo of a challenge coin the members receive In addition to a certificate.

The West Division Management Team is aware of this release and will be monitoring for compliance and public safety.

Attention #yeg #youth! Do you have questions about online safety or other youth-related issues? Join Cst. Corinne Kline and a #YEGnet Youth Liaison from The Fam...ily Centre on the EPS Facebook page tomorrow for Pop with a Cop. Submit your questions on Facebook and our experts will provide insight. See more

16,287 Edmonton bikes have been registered with bikeindex.org. This is excellent as the index is a very helpful tool for our members to use in recovering lost and stolen bikes. Since the EPS joined the bike index last summer, it has assisted in the reunion of 290 bikes and owners. More details are available at: https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/bikeindex https://bikeindex.org/

In response to school closures, the EPS School Resource Officers have created the Youth Enhanced Deployment initiative, which enables all 29 SROs to continue t...o provide their services for schools and youth during the #coronavirus pandemic. From relocating children reported missing, finding and returning stolen items, following up on the mental and physical well-being of youth and their families, speaking with students who may be struggling emotionally or having a hard time with self-isolating, and conducting hot spot policing in popular areas where troubled youth may hang out, these are just a few ways the resource officers have stayed connected to their schools and community. In the meantime, the resource officers continue to field requests for follow-up from school administrations regarding youth who may be at high risk to become victimized or offend, as well as responding to calls from dispatch and assisting with warrant executions when necessary, reassuring families and the community that their services are still available during this unprecedented time. Read more: https://bit.ly/3cft00v #EPS #yeg #COVID19

On the weekend, Canadians across the country learned of the tragedy in Nova Scotia. Among the victims was RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson. Today West Division members joined other EPS employees across the city and took a moment to recognize the loss of all those lives. https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca//remembering-constable-heidi-st

Over the past couple weeks there have been a number of reports where mailboxes are being broken into. Most of these have occurred in apartment buildings. This type of crime is generally just the first step in a longer process. Here is a link to an article on how a simple theft of mail can lead to issues down the road. Remember, check your mail! For If you are in an apartment building, speak with the manager if you have concerns about the security of your mailbox. We also... have stickers available at the front counter to remind apartment building residents to avoid letting in people they do not know. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca//mediar/identitytheftfpm2020

We had an unusual theft complaint yesterday. A storage shed was broken into and the homeowners limbo stick was stolen. Really, how low can you go... With all that is going on in the world right now, I thought it was time for a #Dadjoke!

Today Deputy Chief Murphy came by West Division to personally recognize Cst. Travis Jordan for his actions that brightened a gloomy day for someone. The best part of this is no one knew about this until the lady contacted the media. That Travis guy keeps his cards pretty close to his vest! Nice work Travis!... https://globalnews.ca//edmonton-police-officer-helps-driv/

https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/News/COVID19publicupdates

Chief McFee issues the following message to the public regarding #COVID19. "Let's be concerned, let's be prepared, let's be informed look after your neighbours and those people that are vulnerable." - @DMMcFee #COVID19AB #yeg

Over the past 24 hours, at least seven licence plates were stolen from vehicles in West Division. Six of them were taken off Dodge Caravans. If you drive one of these vehicles, take a moment to make sure your plate is not missing. Also, it is common for thieves to take a plate off a vehicle and replace it with one stolen off another vehicle. Double check you have the correct plate. If you are the victim of a crime, remember the EPS has an on-line reporting option that may be available depending on the circumstances of what happened. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/ContactE/OnlineCrimeReporting

Last night members of the West Division B&E Team were in the Meadowlark area distributing crime prevention information. They were assisted by students from the Center High Emergency Response program. Working together, they visited about 150 houses. Later in their shift, the members attempted a pedestrian stop however the subject had other plans. After a short foot chase, the fleet-of-foot constables caught the subject who was found to have a power tool often used when stea...ling catalytic converters as well as other various tools. An hour later, a report was received about someone trying to break into an apartment building. The members arrived quickly and arrested two subjects. Both were found to have what are referred to in the Criminal Code as "break-in instruments". One of them also had 14 warrants! All three of these subjects were processed for a bail hearing. This was a very productive night for the team, hitting crime from two sides: prevention through community awareness and suppression through the apprehension of those committing the crimes. Information on crime prevention steps you can take can be found here https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/Crime/HomePropertySafety.aspx

Over the past several weekends, we have had at least one occurrence of catalytic converters being cut off vehicles while they are parked in church lots on Sunday morning. If your travels take you by a church and you hear what sounds like some kind of power tool being used in the parking lot, give us a call. We would love to stop by! Here is an article on one recent scenario that played out perfectly. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca//catalyticconvertertheftarre

The Edmonton Police Service recently expanded the online reporting process to include sexual assaults. In some cases, survivors are reluctant to come forward. This option will help address that. https://globalnews.ca//historic-sexual-assault-edmonton-p/

Hot off the press, here are the year to date crime trends for West Division. Here are a few key take-aways: -it is early in the year so comparing the prior year or the three year average may not be reliable -the increase in theft from vehicles is very substantial. Part of this is related to the current trend in theft of catalytic converters -the change in the number of violent crimes is minimal Now, what do we do with this information? 'Hotspots' for these offences are used to generate maps for our patrol officers to refer to when conducting pro-active patrols. Crime types are compared to known offenders with a history of that particular type of crime to identify tasks for the offender management curfew checks. These tasks are monitored frequently to see if they are having an impact.

Recently, a post on this page asked what programs the EPS has to deal with the various issues facing citizens of Edmonton. Here is a partial list! Heavy Users of Service (HUoS) Established in 2013, the HUoS team focuses on the vulnerable population at assist them in navigating the network of agencies that provide health care, mental health services, addiction services, housing assistance, and other social supports. As they gain access to supports to assist them, many clients... improve their circumstances rapidly. With that, their impacts on their communities, along with first responders, reduces. The video link on this post provides more information. Police and Crisis Together (PACT) PACT launched in 2004 as a partnership between Adult Crisis Response Team and EPS to provide service to persons in mental health crisis. Each team is comprised of one uniformed constable and a mental health professional. When dealing with a mental health subject, PACT can assess mental health needs and determine the appropriate action regarding the Mental Health Act or navigate the Criminal Justice System. Y-50 Established in 2013, Y-50 was created in response to the increased number of repeat violent youth-related crimes in Edmonton. With justice and intervention partners to address the risk factors associated with high-risk youth behavior. Y-50 constables monitor, investigate and gather intelligence about selected youth with the aim of providing close supervision and support to minimize re-offending. Youth offenders who continue their criminality are subject to strategies focused on enforcement and public safety, while youth who are engaged, are directed toward rehabilitation and reintegration through the work of a Youth Referral Coordinator. Diversion 1st This is an 'off-ramping' program aimed at youth with no or very limited exposure to the criminal justice system. The volume of files entering the system is massive so by using diversionary options, the more significant files can receive more attention. Diversion 1st provides support to ensure the offender learns through the process. In some cases, if the victim would like to meet with the offender to explain how the crime impacted them, face to face meetings occur. To be clear, these types of meeting would only occur if both parties agree to it. Divisional Offender Management Teams Members of this team are tasked with maintaining an awareness of known offenders in West Division. Monitoring the offenders in the area, while being aware of their judicially imposed conditions and past crime types, helps identify potential suspects on new files. Regarding conditions such as curfews, the OM team assigns tasks to other members of the division to check in to ensure the subject is complying with their conditions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3G4Uah25_A

In West Division, 74% of crime is property related. As we develop our strategies to reduce crime, paying attention to the biggest slice of the pie in the attached chart simply makes sense. If you wonder why posts on this page frequently deal with Theft from Vehicle and Theft of Vehicle, it is because those two crimes make up 60% of our property crime. Removing valuables, keeping your vehicles locked and ensuring the keys are removed from your vehicle are simple steps that can help reduce the number of these types of occurrences. The map below shows the various 'crime indicators' for West Division over the past seven days.

Over the past seven days there have been 11 vehicles stolen in West Division. These are the pink stars on the map. One of our Auto Theft detectives has some common sense suggestions on how to reduce the likelihood of you becoming a victim of this. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/TrafficVeh//TheftOfAuto.aspx