Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee tight-lipped about post-policing plan

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Dale McFee says there are at least “five” rumours circulating about his plans for the future.

But the outgoing Edmonton Police Service chief declined to put any to bed at a news conference Thursday — including ruling out a potential mayoral run.

“What I’ll tell you today, and I’ll be upfront when things progress, as of today I am retiring from policing,” McFee told reporters after laughing off the rumours. “I have no desire to go to another police service — I think I have the best police service in the country.”

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“In the coming days and weeks, I will make it clear what the next plans for Dale McFee are. But right now, I don’t want that added pressure on this police service.”

Asked directly if that is a firm “no” on running in the 2025 civic race, he said, “All options are on the table.”

Highs and lows

McFee hosted media one day after he announced plans to leave the police chief’s job in February 2025, one year ahead of his contract end date.

In addition to the mayoral rumour, McFee said he’s heard that he plans to run federally, or take a job with the provincial government.

After making clear he would leave his future career plans open ended, McFee delivered an at times cagey retrospective on his tumultuous and sometimes controversial tenure, which included a pandemic, global protests in the wake of the George Floyd murder and a provincial government and city council that were frequently at odds.

He also spoke about the worst day on the job, when Constables Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan were shot to death while responding to a family violence call.

McFee was touted as a reformer when he came to Edmonton from the Saskatchewan government in 2019, expected to jive well with a largely rookie council interested in doing policing differently.

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The chief said he believes those plans were largely realized, saying the service has gone from a focus on enforcement to one that also aims to connect vulnerable people with health and social services. He touted recruitment efforts that he says have yielded a “five-fold” increase in female officers.

The relationship with the mayor and council, however, was a frequent source of tension, with some accusing him of being overly close to the provincial UCP. Coun. Michael Janz recently accused the provincial government of trying to “solidify” control of the Edmonton Police Commission by appointing more members, to ensure the “loyalty” of the city’s next police chief.

McFee appeared to chastise city council’s efforts to obtain the police service’s audit plan, saying the current system of police governance works well “if you respect the boundaries.” He lauded the police commission, accusing politicians of trying to “shame them into what they’re doing, to try to intimidate them into what they’re doing.”

“I can’t thank them enough,” he said of the commission.

On homelessness and addiction issues, McFee defended the service’s aggressive approach to encampment removals, and suggested a need for “compassionate intervention” legislation.

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He also took aim at safer supply policies, claiming some drugs on Edmonton streets are diverted veterinary medications.

“Who would ever (have) thought something you give an elephant would work for a human, and call it safe?” he said. “We’re focused on what the evidence says, not literature somebody is trying to spin.”

McFee also railed against social media — accusing activists involved in pro-Palestinian protests of “doxxing” officers who raided their camp, and blaming Twitter pundits for the removal of school resource officers from Edmonton public schools.

Speaking about activists, he said, “I don’t care, because I don’t pay attention to them. I care about what’s happening to the citizens on our streets.”

On a personal note, McFee said he is “tired” and thanked his wife and daughters for their support, as well as the thousands who work for EPS as officers and civilians.

Criticism, praise

Daniel Jones, a one-time EPS inspector and chair of the justice studies program at NorQuest College, was critical of McFee’s time at the helm.

“He came in with a very powerful message about de-tasking police,” said Jones “A quote of his was ‘arresting those we’re scared of, not the ones we’re mad at’ — trying to get people out of the justice system.”

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“It seemed to be as he moved on, those things became less important, and they didn’t get as much attention. He went from ‘less arrests, less incarceration’ to the zero-tolerance chief.”

Jones criticized McFee for the “vilification of the unhoused,” pointing to an EPS-produced video in which a deputy chief suggested land that housed a former homeless encampment was permanently damaged.

“There was kind of a push, in my opinion, to vilify,” Jones said. “They would talk about caches of weapons and show mall ninja swords and stuff like that.”

John Lilley, a former police commissioner and police reform advocate, assessed McFee positively.

He praised the new curriculum for recruits, which focuses on previously under-covered topics like de-escalation, bias awareness and critical thinking.

Lilley said removing homeless encampments was “probably a good thing,” but added the issue is “complex.”

“That’s what we’ll remember him for,” Lilley said.

He did fault McFee’s sometimes liberal use of policing jargon.

“If you’ve got a background in policing, no problem, if you’ve got a background in academia, no problem. But if you’re John Q. Citizen, do you know what he’s saying?”

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McFee was also “abrupt” at times, including in response to the outcry over the police shooting death of Mathios Arkangelo, Lilley said.

“I paraphrase, but he said, ‘There’s due processes being followed.’ Absolutely correct — but the public, members of the Black community, those family members, are not reassured by a statement of that sort,” he said. “It came off a little cold.”

McFee’s last day on the job is Feb. 21, 2025. He was initially slated to stay on until early 2026.

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