Edmonton city council members offer praise, criticism for police chief’s Israel trip

Edmonton's police chief, Warren Dreichel, is receiving praise and criticism for his educational trip to Israel last month. Jeremy Thompson reports.

Members of Edmonton’s city council are both criticizing and praising the chief of police for his decision to go to Israel last month.

Police Chief Warren Dreichel’s educational trip was organized and paid for by the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Edmonton’s Muslim and Jewish communities expressed opposite reactions to the trip last week.

On Monday, city councillors Mike Elliot and Karen Principe both said they supported the trip that was taken last month. Coun. Erin Rutherford and Mayor Andrew Knack have both criticized it.

Dreichel has not been made available for an interview with CTV News Edmonton since news of his trip broke last week.

The Edmonton Police Service told CTV News Edmonton the trip was an opportunity for Dreichel to gain insights into local policing in a highly complex environment.

The chair of the city’s police commission, former city councillor Ben Henderson, approved the trip.

“I believe that this was an educational opportunity – and I know that does affect aspects of the community and I know that’s hurtful, and I completely understand that – but I also realize that visiting different countries (and) different cities provides opportunities for dialogue,” Elliot, who represents Ward Pishewin, told media on Monday.

Knack said he wants the police commission to review its travel policy

“For that particular country, there is a Canadian government warning to avoid all travel, so we have to be aware of context like that,” the mayor said on Monday.

Both local criticism and praise have been strong.

A group of people upset with the trip protested it outside police headquarters on the weekend.

A letter to the police commission signed by more than two dozen local Muslim organizations describes Edmonton families grieving the ongoing violence in Gaza.

They want Dreichel to step down, saying the chief’s trip has caused “profound disappointment and hurt” and calling the decision to go “a serious failure of judgement,” one that has “undermined trust” with the Muslim community.

The Jewish Federation of Edmonton has sent a letter to the commission and city council in support of the chief, calling the criticism “divisive.”

The next police commission meeting is on Thursday.