Edmonton police commission bans public speakers at meetings for remainder of year

Facing what it describes as a wave of insulting and abusive remarks, the Edmonton police commission decided to bar live public speakers from all remaining meetings this year, though the sessions will continue to be broadcast online. The commission will still accept written input and plans to reassess the suspension before the next calendar year. Chair Ben Henderson said the measure is intended to safeguard commissioners, staff and the public after recent incidents he said involved defamation and attacks on participants.

He did not provide concrete examples when questioned. The decision has drawn criticism from community activists such as Nour Salhi of the Palestinian Student Alliance, who called the ban undemocratic, and from criminologist Dan Jones, who warned it could erode police legitimacy and community policing. The controversy follows earlier backlash over Police Chief Warren Driechel’s trip to Israel, which sparked heated debate at prior commission meetings.