Edmonton Police Commission Chair to Oversee City Policing from…Portugal?
John McDougall, a seven-year member of Edmonton’s police commission, announced Friday he will continue serving on the oversight board from Portugal after stepping down as chair, maintaining his position through 2026.
McDougall, one of three provincially-appointed commissioners on the 12-member board, will conclude his chair term on December 31, 2024, while retiring from his Canadian Armed Forces career. He noted in a statement that commissioners have previously served while living outside Edmonton, though he didn’t specify details of these cases.
“I have resided in Edmonton, and Alberta, for a very long time and my ties to this community do not simply disappear when I step onto an airplane,” McDougall said, adding there are no residency requirements for commissioners in municipal or provincial regulations.
The commission, comprising two city councillors and ten civilian members, oversees crucial responsibilities including the Edmonton Police Service budget, policing policies, and currently, the selection of a new police chief following Dale McFee’s February departure.
When asked about McDougall’s plans at an unrelated news conference Friday, Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said he’d heard “vaguely” of the move but was unaware of overseas service arrangements. In a subsequent statement, Ellis noted that McDougall’s “experience and knowledge is vital during this time of change at EPS and at the commission.”
McDougall, already in Portugal by Friday afternoon Edmonton time, has committed to returning for in-person commission business when required and declined the standard commissioner honorarium for his remaining term. The commission has conducted several virtual meetings this year, allowing for remote participation.
A commission spokesperson told CBC News that McDougall was unavailable for immediate comment due to the time difference, as it was late night in Portugal when approached for comment mid-afternoon in Edmonton.
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