Police association president concerned ‘people are not afraid to shoot at police’

Edmonton police officers were recently shot at during a chase with suspects, and the head of the Edmonton Police Association said the incident unnerved him.

On Saturday night, a double shooting on Brintnell Boulevard left two people wounded; the suspects fled in a vehicle. Police caught up with the suspect vehicle around 129 Avenue and 69 Street and attempted to stop it.

That’s when shots rang out in the direction of police – no officers were injured. Officers later found the vehicle near 130 Avenue and 88 Street and arrested two people after a short chase.

“Are we watching a Hollywood movie? It showcases to me how policing is changing in Canada,” association president Maurice Brodeur said.

Brodeur said he fears attitudes towards gun violence from the United States are creeping into Canada through the media.

“People are not afraid to shoot at police. What we’re seeing in the States, maybe some people think, ‘well that’s how things are done.’ I’m very concerned about that.”

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There have been several incidents in Edmonton – some of them deadly – of violence towards police.

In May 2014, an officer was shot while in a firefight with a man wanted for murder. In May 2015, a suspect shot a police officer who pulled him over for suspected impaired driving.

Sometimes the incidents can be deadly. RCMP Const. David Wynn was shot and killed in January 2015 while investigating a vehicle theft. Six months later, Edmonton Police Service Const. Daniel Woodall was killed trying to execute a search warrant.

Brodeur said it is difficult to say if numbers are on the rise, but he wants Edmontonians to keep a few things in mind.

“I need the residents of Edmonton to understand we are not the United States. Policing here is of a different brand. We’re more transparent, more accountable, more professional,” he said.

Brodeur said he spoke with an officer who was in a vehicle behind the suspect vehicle when shots were fired.

“It was an unreal evening. He was kind of excited but also very matter-of-fact because he was involved in a very scary incident. But he was doing his job. They caught the bad guys. You could sense a tinge of pride,” he said.

Brodeur said the threat of danger is constant for police officers.

“We know very well that maybe others would run away. We don’t run away,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We know very well that maybe others would run away. We don't run away," he said.

Two men are facing charges of attempted murder of the police officers as well as firearm and vehicle offences in relation to the incident.