Edmonton names 2 interim police chiefs for duration of national search for permanent candidate

Two interim police chiefs have been named to head the Edmonton Police Service while a search for a permanent chief is conducted.

Two high-level cops will serve as interim police chiefs to Edmonton Police Service (EPS) until a full-time permanent chief is hired, the Edmonton Police Commission announced on Friday.

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Deputy chiefs Devin Laforce and Warren Driechel, colleagues at EPS for nearly three decades, will rotate on a monthly basis providing leadership and oversight until a permanent chief of police is chosen – a process that could potentially take the rest of the year, the commission’s vice chair said.

The arrangement was described at a news conference on Friday as “a chiefs committee” and “co-leading.”

“We’re just co-pilots and we’re working together,” Driechel said.

Taking turns answering questions at two podiums in the EPS media studio at TD Tower, they told reporters the partnership felt natural.

“It gives me now someone to bounce things off of and work together with. I used an example the other day… It’s like there’s no dad to go to anymore. That boss, that cover, that I had with the chief is no longer there. It’s up to us and I think it’s a great opportunity for us to grow and develop together,” Driechel said.

Laforce added, “Edmonton is the priority. Period. Organization is second. I’m a distant third. So, again, whatever the organization picks, I’m good with.”

“I’m the same,” Driechel replied.

In his 28 years with EPS, he has worked in or led intelligence programs and organized crime investigations, as well as helped develop recruitment training and changes to data organization and technology development. Currently, he directs the Community Safety and Well Being Bureau, including the homeless camp response, the Police and Crisis Response Team (PACT), and Human-centred Engagement and Liaison Partnership Unit (HELP).

Laforce, with EPS for 26 years, has focused much of his career on intelligence-led policing, major criminal investigations and forensic advancements, EPS says. He is the deputy chief of the investigations and support services bureau, overseeing the investigative and operational support divisions plus teams working with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams agency.

“The commission received interest from two strong applicants for this role and we’ve decided to hire both,” vice chair Shazia Amiri told reporters.

That is not confirmation, however, that either will get the full-time gig, or even has applied for it.

“Both myself and Warren are pretty strong applicants, I think, for a permanent chief position and neither one of us have committed ourselves yet to applying for a permanent chief position,” Laforce said. “So this is something that doesn’t disadvantage or advantage either one of us. And we’re also uniquely situated in the sense that we actually get along, we actually respect each other, and so this is something we can work together with.”

Amiri declined to say how many deputy chiefs had applied, citing confidentiality, but confirmed both Laforce and Driechel would be eligible if they put their names forward.

She and the commission believe naming two interim chiefs will provide stability and allow each to continue overseeing their respective bureaus while the commission conducts a national candidate search with help from a vendor.

When asked what was desired in Edmonton’s next police chief, Amiri said, “We need to do some public engagement. We’d like to ensure that we work with the public to ascertain that, as well as our stakeholders.”

Although the co-interim chiefs are still working out their first moves, they told media their priorities are building on last year’s success, like reducing crime and community partnerships.

“We have both very, very aligned visions – and maybe different styles, somewhat – but we really want to get to the same place,” Driechel said.

As Laforce put it, “There’s definitely going to be that singular chain of command… Me and Warren (sic) think a lot alike, but we also think differently. We’re very much aligned.”

Friday was the last day of Edmonton’s 23rd police chief, Dale McFee, who will start his new job as the deputy minister of Alberta’s executive council and head of the Alberta Public Service on Monday.

He did not speak at the news conference.

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With files from CTV News Edmonton’s David Ewasuk