Edmonton police launch 'The Squad' web series, inside look into crime fighting

The Edmonton Police Service has launched a new reality web series called The Squad - which gives Edmontonians an inside look into the work that officers of West Squad 7 do each and every day - from stopping drunk drivers to dealing with knife-wielding suspects, domestic violence, drug dealers and more.

“When trouble calls, Squad 7 comes running.”

It’s a rare look inside the work police officers do each and every day – The Squad is a new web series from the Edmonton Police Service, launched Friday.

Described as a “gritty, hard-hitting look at policing in Edmonton,” each short YouTube webisode follows the officers of West Squad 7, fighting crime in the city’s west end.

"The big part of it is is to connect with the public and to show what police work is really about. A lot of policing is dramatized by TV shows and they're very far from reality. What you're seeing here is unscripted," said EPS Deputy Chief Brian Simpson.

"This is what goes on and the members respond to situations a lot of the time with limited information and have to work through it very quickly."

The short webisodes posted on the Edmonton Police Service’s YouTube page, captures the 15 officers stopping drunk drivers, responding to calls of gunshots being fired, dealing with knife-wielding suspects, domestic violence, drug dealers and out-of-control house parties.

The EPS Digital Media Unit began filming the series last October.

"We are looking for that balance between entertainment and information," said Michael James, supervisor with the Digital Media Unit.

"There's also the stories of our members that we're trying to highlight so they'll actually follow the members through these calls and talk to them about what they've done, where they've come from. You'll see through the series as well as little vignettes of our members."

Police say The Squad is a vital tool in gaining community support, trust and building relationships.

It’s meant to be entertaining and educational, and also acts as a recruiting tool.

“We are trying to tell our story,” Simpson said.

"This is what we do everyday," said Const. Douglas McLeod, a member of the West Squad 7.

"It showcases the fact that we are people, we are doing a job and we are out there to help the community."

The project cost about $5,000 to produce out of the EPS budget.

The first of 15 episodes was released Friday, entitled ‘The Screaming Man,’ and introduces Edmontonians to Cst. Paula Hunt and the Squad 7 team searching for a screaming man in the river valley.

Watch the first episode below:

James says the EPS' online mini-series is the only internally-produced series of its kind.

"The closest thing that we've seen is The Beat in Vancouver, that is on TV. But that is done by an outside production company," James said.

The Squad is the latest social effort from police trying to reach out to Edmontonians.

The Edmonton Police Service also has several of its officers actively tweeting out what they do day-to-day on Twitter.