Advertisement

‘It’s very difficult to prepare for something like this’: EPS chief on Moncton shooting

Edmonton Police Services Chief Rod Knecht speaks with the media in Edmonton, Alta., on Monday, June 18, 2012.
Edmonton Police Services Chief Rod Knecht speaks with the media in Edmonton, Alta., on Monday, June 18, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jordan Verlage

EDMONTON – Rod Knecht, chief of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), says shootings like the one in Moncton are incredibly hard to predict, but that EPS officers are well trained for a similar situation.

“Policing is… you can never predict what’s going to happen,” said Knecht during an interview on Shaw TV.

READ MORE: Timeline – how the Moncton shooting turned into a manhunt 

The shooting in Moncton that left three RCMP officers dead and two injured has impacted law enforcement personnel across the country.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

“It’s very difficult to prepare for something like this,” he added.

“Something as simple as checking a car: you may be stopping a car for a traffic violation and that can turn into a very violent incident or escalate very, very quickly depending on the circumstances.”

Story continues below advertisement

Still, he says local police officers are as prepared as they can be for those kinds of situations.

“Our officers here in Edmonton are very well trained, very well equipped. And, are they prepared for that exact type of circumstance? In a broad degree, yes.”

READ MORE: Police officer injured, suspect dead following shootout in southwest Edmonton

As a show of support for the fallen officers, the flags at RCMP K Division in Edmonton have been lowered.

READ MORE: Moncton shooting takes Mayerthorpe famililes ‘right back’ 

This weekend, Mayerthorpe and Whitecourt are hosting the fifth annual Fallen Four Memorial Marathon.

 

Sponsored content

AdChoices