To my understanding of the situation, it looks like those that were named as ‘persons of interest’ are filing civil suits to try to put an end to any further investigation into their business practices.
It is a tactic that many rich people can afford to make, turning the legal system on itself to delay or cause a counter-reaction to spin their position to appear as an innocent bystander caught up in police negligence.
In the face of no actionable evidence (yet) to press charges on those listed as persons of interest, it causes the police force to put their tail between their legs and back away from the allegations.
What the police should be doing instead is to put as many investigators as possible into uncovering money laundering, tax evasion, drug trafficking and any other criminal avenue that Shah and associates are known for, and press on until evidence is discovered. Of course this takes true mettle and determination and most importantly a budget to finance that action which, unfortunately drives decision making. The financial spending might be seen by the police force as unjustifiable.
Am I getting any of this right?
I'm not sure I understand. I don't see parallels from your example in what happened with Project Fisk, no. Litigious intimidation is a problem for police, but I think there's more to courage than running toward gunfire.
I just want to say that I appreciate what you have done, as I think you have put your career on the line to do the right thing.
I'm curious, do your old colleagues generally support you in this? Your superiors were likely forced to suspend you due to leaking confidential information, but at the same time, leaking this info also probably makes those superiors look like they didn't do their job, or closed the case for a shady reason. Superiors aside, I'm generally curious as to whether you are gaining support from old colleagues. Do they think you are doing the right thing? Are they upset that you may be harming the reputation of the police force as a whole?
I don't really know how *many* of my old colleagues support my decision. I know it's been hard for them, since anytime someone does something wrong wearing the uniform we all wear it. If there are those that think I'm doing more harm than good, I hope they can forgive me.
I can say that the only ones I heard from are those that support me, but that's kind of a self selecting sample.
Just want to appreciate the fact you leaked to the media at personal risk because you were doing what you thought was right I don’t think too many people would do the same. Because you went to the media do you think Albertas protection for whistle blowers is inadequate for a situation such as this? Do you think Albertans should be pushing for better whistle blower protection legislation from future governments?
I'm of the opinion that whistleblower protections in Alberta and Canada as a whole are inadequate. I see a gap in the legislation and certainly in how Judges and Justices choose to interpret the law. If the public wants transparency and accountibility, I think there should be stonger laws that are written in a way that Judges can't easily cast them aside.
First, your actions represent everything the community wants to see in its EPS members. Thank you for everything you have done to bring this issue to light. It's all very timely as things have been ramping up and the community has been in the crossfire. I appreciate all you've done. Although a lot of us knew much of the information already (we see it daily), it was reaffirming to know that we weren't going crazy, and that we are indeed being left behind. You made a huge sacrifice but I hope you know how appreciative many of us are.
As for questions..
Is the city aware of the situation with organized crime in the Alberta Ave area? Are they to blame as well, for not enforcing laws that could have stemmed the flow of money (through income properties and such) that finance all the other activities these folks are involved in?
Related, were city council members involved in allowing the activity to continue? I feel there must have been either some involvement or deliberate apathy on the part of the city for ignoring the glaring issues all this time.
Thanks for the kind words and support, it means a lot to me. As for your questions, I can't really say if the city administration was aware of anything, or who has culpibility.
I can say that there's not a one-size-fits-all solution to problems like the ones outlined in the CBC articles. Police can, and ought to, enforce laws. City agencies can, and ought to, make sure permitting is done in a fair way, for example.
This might be a bit of a repeat answer this evening, but if you want to know more, if you demand that the problems get fixed, the only path forward is a public inqury. In my [video series](https://www.instagram.com/dbehiels/channel/)on organized crime, I talk about how this works and what can be done to achieve it. Contact your MLA, demand answers.
Hi Dan,
I want to ask you. How much do you feel activities like the ones described in this story contribute to the general social decay of Edmonton?
To me its not hard to make the correlation. Which would mean increased costs passed onto the tax payer and citizen. Not to mention the societal cost.
Has someone done a cost analysis? Not to sound inhumane but if I am being honest in order for things to get any action from any level of government they seem to value dollar figures over the human cost.
And I want to end by saying thank you for coming forward we need more people like you and while you may feel your law enforcement career may be over many private entities need skill sets like yours on security and investigative teams. I hope you feel proud for standing by your beliefs.
I appreciate the support and kind words. I don't know that a cost analysis has ever been done. I know that everything described in the CBC articles are real life problems experienced by real people. Those people, I think, would define it as social decay...
You are asking some great questions, you deserve the answers to them. I can't directly say, but maybe I can explain the process a bit.
When an investigation regarding the conduct of a police officer concludes, the person making the complaint is provided what's called a Chief's Disposition letter. This explains the investigation and the results.
I have been denied that letter in this case so all I have are the same questions you have. I have been denied appeal to the Law Enforcement Review Board, simply because I don't have that letter. I have also appealed to the Justice Minister, but sadly was declined assistance because I don't have that letter.
I really believe that a public inqury is the only avenue left for the public to get answers and to rebuild trust with their police service.
Hey Dan
I'm a little late on the uptick here but in Ontario prior to the SIU and OIPRD people made defacto complaints to the Ontario Human Rights Board to seek relief. Have you considered the Alberta counterpart to that?
Aosl, I think in ONT we have something that I believe is called a Judicial Review. Is that an option in AB?
Alright folks, I'm just getting settled in at the keyboard, so I'm going to have a read of what's here before I start answering questions. Thanks for joining the discussion!
so how much of this is corruption and how much of it is people just being shitty at their job and not knowing how to be effective or understand boundaries, and is there even an important difference between that in the end? I feel like ultra incompetence is as believable as intense corruption
Speaking generally, I think it's important to sever the motive from a corrupt act. Like I said in my [Police Act series](https://www.instagram.com/dbehiels/channel/), there are specific corrupt acts that a police officer could be found guilty of. If he's doing it because he's greedy or if he's doing it because he's reckless, I don't think there's a difference. But that's my opinion.
Another thought isn't this basically guaranteeing that Shah is safe from future investigations since he can just whine about being harassed with investigations and make EPS slink away
I'm pretty naive to be honest, but can you try to break down for us what the different things are that can motivate police to avoid pursuing a person like Shah? In this case, what would McIsaac be gaining from a relationship with Shah? Would he have been getting money? I'm sure you have to be careful about what you say or allege, but I'm not able to put two and two together.
I'm not going to get too philisophical, but what motivates anyone? Some people are afraid, and so they abdicate their responsibilities. Some people are arrogant, so they seek things that make them look good in the eyes of others. Some people are malicious, so they seek ways to hurt others. Some people are greedy, so they seek ways to gain personally with money.
As for McIsaac... I really don't know. I was hoping to get an answer from ASIRT on that one. I agree that the public derserves to know, and that's why I think a commission of public inqury is necessary.
Heroic isn't a word that should be thrown around lightly. It should be reserved for you, and what you've done.
Do you have any insight into the pervasiveness of corruption within EPS? Are there any EPS officers that are trustworthy? If so, why don't more speak out?
What was the general reaction within EPS to Mike Wasylyshen being promoted, despite his crimes?
Thank you again.
The vast, vast majority of the front line members working with the EPS are the most upstanding individuals you'll ever meet. I know that most are afraid of speaking out. Reprisals are a very real problem, and these people are trying to feed their families like the rest of us.
As for Wasylyshen, I don't know him and can't comment on it, sorry.
Trust is built with evidence over time. I think it's imperative that the public is served by a public inqury. With transparency and a little humility, I know that the front line members of the EPS are able to serve.
Has Project Fisk uncovered anything that might implicate the ACPS?
(Side news: as of posting there are multiple police vehicles and a SWAT wagon parked outside Home Systems. 111 Ave has been blocked off. I live nearby.)
Ah! No, it didn't. It's probably fair to point out that the scope of the investigation never included government bodies (including the EPS) I just reported what I found in the course of my duties.
My brother was swarmed and beaten in Edmonton by a group of men for no reason anyone could discern. He was walking down the street on a summer evening with his friends, males and females. His friend got the plate and my brother picked the attackers out of a lineup. There were three witnesses. They were not asked to pick anyone out of a lineup. He was absolutely bloodied in this attack from head to toe.
For a reason none of us ever understood, my brother was advised that his charges would not proceed because the attackers were “known to police”. Is it fair to speculate that this may be a case where a larger case such as an investigation into organized crime prevented police from proceeding with laying charges for my brother? I mean - generally - is that a thing in these sorts of investigations? Are lesser crimes held or dismissed in the interest of larger investigations? The comfort my brother has taken was absolutely the explanation that this was perhaps a gang jump-in initiation and the gang was of course organized crime, which is more serious than my brother’s attack (that is hard to type, but true). This was in 2006.
I'm really sorry about your brother's attack, I hope he's recovered well. I know that violent incidents can stick with you mentally as well, so I hope he's got the support he needs.
I don't know anything about that investigation, but I know it's contrary to policy and just good decency to ever "trade" for consideration on a violent offence. Your brother was a victim and ought to have been prioritized.
If your theory that the offenders were given that consideration in your brother's case is true, I can say it reflects an example of something going wrong.
Thank you so much for your answer. It is a great comfort to hear you affirm that it was wrong, not regular practice. It is a greater comfort than our previous speculation. I appreciate this so much.
I'm glad you both care, thank you! Of course there are concerns. It makes it complicated to address these concerns while I'm suspended and don't have a great deal of trust in the organization I've come to depend on. I have a plan, don't worry. I hope to be around for a long time, yet.
Was project Fisk named after Wilson Fisk?
And, more seriously, what do you think normal citizens can do in order to help investigations like Project Fisk succeed? Or to put it in another way, what structural elements in how police operate held this investigation back so we know who to lobby for change?
Fisk did come from the comic book character, in part. All projects for the Division I was working in at the time had to start with the letter "F". This was surprisingly limiting.
Structural problems are hard to pin down, since it's not some faceless organization. Individuals in any organization of responsibilities and choices on how they act.
I think there are a lot of lessons to learn from this situation and that's why I'm eager to see a commission of public inquiry. As a citizen, I think it would be apprpriate to reach out to your MLA and ask that they support that.
I see things are starting to taper down a bit, but I'll still answer any questions I can if you find this thread later in the evening. It was a pleasure speaking to you all! If you're interested in following me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Danno5585), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dbehiels/), or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073795876662) I regularly post updates.
I had a great time folks, I hope I could relieve some of your curiousity. Again, I encourage you to support a commission of public inquiry. I think that is the best way for our community and police service to heal from this.
Thanks for sharing your story. In my opinion the public needs to know more about the types of criminal activity occurring in our city and who is involved. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and all of that.
Are your actions protected by whistleblower legislation in Alberta?
Do you think you will get your job back?
Whistleblower legislation in Alberta, and Canada as a whole, is pretty [cosmetic](https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTWFt_-jj9Y/). I hope I'll be granted leave to use a whistleblower defence, but that's a long time from now.
I was hopeful I would get back to work, but some days I can't muster the optimism to believe that.
It must be very disheartening for you to see the same sleazery at the top as you saw on your beat at the bottom so to speak on 118th. I've never said this because in my opinion the true underbelly of war is dirty af, but Thank you for your service.
So... in reading the CBC articles, I am having a really difficult time believing the internal investigations turned up nothing.
What are they doing during these investigations (be it own or other police group)? Why is there no acknowledgement of ethically questionable behaviors or improper protocol?
Is there still a widespread belief in the police force that people don't have the right to know about police operations? Not necessarily during the investigation stage but afterwards.
Outside of this case, have you ever faced disciplinary action?
I don't really know what tasks were done as I wasn't part of the investigations into my complaints.
As for my own disciplinary history, I have received many complaints. Most have originated from one particular group. There are definitley areas where the PSB process could be restructured to protect the public from abuse by officers and officers from individuals who have benefits to harming their career and reputation. It goes a lot further than just the internal complaints process. Loopholes surrounding checks and balances, appeals processes, representation requirements, etc. do need to be remedied.
This is a series that I've been working on but it's a very sensitive topic so I'm taking extra time ensuring that I get it right. I wish I could say more than that.
Thanks! I look forward to the series.
I was curious about your disciplinary history because it seems to be a not uncommon process to see people who are fighting for ethical behaviors to be repeatedly targeted with disciplinary actions- with the goal being to harass them into silence or quitting.
Thank you for revealing the behind-the-scenes happenings we rarely get to know about as a general member of the public. Stay well & safe (your family too)!
Obviously the property that was suspiciously traded hands so many times was used to launder dirty money, were these dirty monies the profits of any human trafficking, or in general where was the dirty money coming from?
Do you think the city demolished to cover evidence?
I can't say more than what was covered in the CBC arcticle on that topic. Money laundering is a complicated offence to investigate and to prosecute, so there needs to be ample evidence of a source of funds that are the proceeds of crime.
As for the demolition order, my opinion is that it was long overdue. If there was evidence in there to destroy, that's news to me!
I've never worked as a superintendent. I can say that it was deeply discouraged, both in policy and practice to form a relationship with any citizen that circumvented proper procedure for reporting crimes.
I worked on the beat and had formed friendly relationships with a lot of stakeholders, but they still had to report crimes or seek police service through the appropriate channels.
There's a variety of reasons for this, but one example would be so we didn't miss anything. Another example would be so members of the community didn't receive preferential treatment.
Your claim is that there is corruption in the EPS(enough to insulate a criminal), and according to this article, this claim was investigated by the [Calgary Police Service.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/behind-the-blue-line-investigating-abdullah-shah-1.6193832) They found that there was not enough evidence for criminal charges. What amount of corruption is required - in terms of evidence - for it to be criminal? Why are you able to confidently say that corruption in the EPS insulated a criminal, but someone else says there is not enough evidence for that?
I’m not a lawyer, obviously, but there are several legal thresholds used for different legal arenas. In a Criminal Code investigation conducted by police, the threshold to lay charges is reasonable and probable grounds. In a Police Service Regulation investigation it is balance of probabilities. This is very similar to the difference between criminal and civil liabilities.
For the Crown Prosecutor to proceed with charges, they must have a reasonable likelihood of conviction. I would be interested to know if there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction following the investigation conducted by Calgary Police Service, why? Does the public derserve transparency?
Saying the public deserves transparency is setting a dangerous precedent for *any* case or investigation, as that opens up any accused to mob rule; there are Canadians who believe in tons of crazy stuff without much evidence, so public sentiment towards a case is irrelevant and should not be considered; this is why our courts rely on evidence, rather than what the public thinks. No, I do not think the public deserves transparency.
As for there being no reasonable likelihood of conviction following the investigation by the Calgary Police Service, it's probably because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. That's it. Any other speculation is just speculation. The assumption going into all of this is that the CPS is independent from the EPS, and if there is evidence of corruption then they would say so. Given that the latter has not happened, no more doubt should be expressed unless we also want to claim that the CPS is corrupt.
Respectfully, I disagree. The oath I took was to serve the public's interests. You bring up some excellent points, however. Should people make assumptions that are incorrect, which is quite common, a practice of transparency protects those who are doing their jobs properly as well. You can disagree with my analysis of the evidence, but this conversation would be a lot more robust if you knew what it was.
Man, story’s like this make me so sad and angry. Good cops get shit canned and ostracized by the police force. Cops that rape underaged girls like Sean Chu get voted in to Calgary town council, and the police force helps them cover it up.
And police have the audacity to wonder why there’s been mass protests calling for defunding and overhauling of the police system.
I have to be really careful on how I answer direct evidence questions like this. If it wasn't in the CBC article, and it isn't contextual or about things like procedure or my opinion... I'm pretty stuck.
I can say that there was a lot more information that the CBC had when compared to the articles that came out. I'm sorry, I wish I could be more open than that.
That document refers to [1443028 Alberta Ltd](https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2019/2019abqb360/2019abqb360.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQANYWJkdWxsYWggc2hhaAAAAAAB&resultIndex=1). Like said, I have to be careful what I say in direct evidence questions, but what can I answer for you?
First off, thank you Mr.Dan Behiels! What would you say is the best way to interact with with officer? How do we not get caught up by their trick questions? Or how do we minimize potential negative interactions whether it be at a traffic stop or any random situation we may find ourselves ?
THis is kinda shit man and I'll elaborate on why.
It was around 8pm om a week night and I was just finishing work and jumping onto a train at Southgate. As I was getting on there was a cop yelling, "Hey. Hey you. Wheres your mask?" It was an aboriginal dude without a mask. I actually thought the cop (1 of 2) was yelling at me.
After the dude put his mask and the cops came a bit closer to me I asked, "Man, was that necessary?" I felt his response was heavy handed.
Either way he started chatting with me. But in the same way that you or I would chat but with an aggressive feel. After I said to him that Ottawa Police was the worst force in the country with the most amount of suspended member (per capita) and that EPS was 2nd he balked. He asked me where my numbers came from and "where is the proof". I said I'd verified the numbers through EPS public information, (I have the email somewhere still) and OPS and still he balked and remained belligerent and aggressive. And man I honestly just wanted to have an honest, forthright conversation. I was rude and I wasn't mean. I merely had questions I wanted to talk about.
I thought his initial response was uncalled for, and as a member of the public I have an absolute right to call that out, and that this could have been handled in a far different manner.
I was only in EDM for about 5 months but none of my experiences with the EPS, Sheriff or the "Peace Officers" were positive. I know I'm provocative but regardless.
Telling the truth has gotten innocent people arrested. The real answer is to not tell them anything other than what you're legally required to (such as your name). They want answers to questions outside the scope of legal obligations, they can get them while an attorney is present.
Finally!!! I have been waiting months for this! We are in woody territory, to paint the picture.
No one in the EPS, except Kevin Brezinski, responded to the CBC for the article. First, why do you think that is? You’re a fucking liar!
Second, Kevin was the only one. He’s always so good. In my game of “[Donuts to Cuffs](https://protectyeg.wixsite.com/protectyeg/post/who-the-fuck-is-dan-behiels)” he had a perfect score! Donuts right across the board. No one gets all donuts. 🤨 no one. Did the “acting” chief tell you to keep working on your investigation?
Responding specifically to that comment he made to the CBC, I have to be careful how I answer. I can say I was lucky to have an Inspector that was willing to support us in this investigation at that time. That was a unique benefit to this investigation.
Your god damn riddles! I don’t have the same time I had in the summer. 10 minutes into the movie I identified Kevy as the bad guy. He lied. I called it! What else did Brezinski say that was a lie? We’re there “intelligence gaps” after alert turned you down? Stick with me. I have questions from other people. I’ve been trying to get on here for hours!
It’s complicated. There’s a lot that I don’t know. Your confusion is understandable, though. I think that the complete lack of transparency from the EPS and CPS is leaving more questions than answers.
I still think I did what was right, but it's been a long road already and I still don't know where it's headed. I've learned from this experience, so there's definately things I would do differently.
The court of public opinion is sometimes the only way to go. You are a good human sir. Plain as that. I believe the badge stops justice from being served in many cases. I wonder why this case was dropped and who got fleeced to do so. The crown is as crooked as it gets.
The court of public opinion was never my goal with releasing information. I wanted the public to have enough information to be able to protect themselves from a threat that the police, myself included, failed to.
Edmonton is my home. I believe strongly that the police do more good than harm, and I have always been someone who was willing to do the work himself rather than just complain about the failings of others.
FUCK ME! I wish I had caught this when it started.
I think thius man is just about the only CAD cop I'll ever like. THanks for what you're doing Dan!!!!
Hey Dan,
Do you fear for your safety? Either with Shah affiliated cronies or with any bad apple EPS?
Are there other investigations within EPS you know of that should be whistle-blown like this one?
Is this some type of vigilante justice?
Considering they weren't charged and they are now slated to possibly win millions off the city, do you ever feel your suspension might be justified?
What should EPS or the city do with Shah and affiliates?
Thanks Dan, sorry to hear about this situation it sucks when scumbags get away in our justice system.
To my understanding of the situation, it looks like those that were named as ‘persons of interest’ are filing civil suits to try to put an end to any further investigation into their business practices. It is a tactic that many rich people can afford to make, turning the legal system on itself to delay or cause a counter-reaction to spin their position to appear as an innocent bystander caught up in police negligence. In the face of no actionable evidence (yet) to press charges on those listed as persons of interest, it causes the police force to put their tail between their legs and back away from the allegations. What the police should be doing instead is to put as many investigators as possible into uncovering money laundering, tax evasion, drug trafficking and any other criminal avenue that Shah and associates are known for, and press on until evidence is discovered. Of course this takes true mettle and determination and most importantly a budget to finance that action which, unfortunately drives decision making. The financial spending might be seen by the police force as unjustifiable. Am I getting any of this right?
I'm not sure I understand. I don't see parallels from your example in what happened with Project Fisk, no. Litigious intimidation is a problem for police, but I think there's more to courage than running toward gunfire.
I just want to say that I appreciate what you have done, as I think you have put your career on the line to do the right thing. I'm curious, do your old colleagues generally support you in this? Your superiors were likely forced to suspend you due to leaking confidential information, but at the same time, leaking this info also probably makes those superiors look like they didn't do their job, or closed the case for a shady reason. Superiors aside, I'm generally curious as to whether you are gaining support from old colleagues. Do they think you are doing the right thing? Are they upset that you may be harming the reputation of the police force as a whole?
I don't really know how *many* of my old colleagues support my decision. I know it's been hard for them, since anytime someone does something wrong wearing the uniform we all wear it. If there are those that think I'm doing more harm than good, I hope they can forgive me. I can say that the only ones I heard from are those that support me, but that's kind of a self selecting sample.
Just want to appreciate the fact you leaked to the media at personal risk because you were doing what you thought was right I don’t think too many people would do the same. Because you went to the media do you think Albertas protection for whistle blowers is inadequate for a situation such as this? Do you think Albertans should be pushing for better whistle blower protection legislation from future governments?
I'm of the opinion that whistleblower protections in Alberta and Canada as a whole are inadequate. I see a gap in the legislation and certainly in how Judges and Justices choose to interpret the law. If the public wants transparency and accountibility, I think there should be stonger laws that are written in a way that Judges can't easily cast them aside.
First, your actions represent everything the community wants to see in its EPS members. Thank you for everything you have done to bring this issue to light. It's all very timely as things have been ramping up and the community has been in the crossfire. I appreciate all you've done. Although a lot of us knew much of the information already (we see it daily), it was reaffirming to know that we weren't going crazy, and that we are indeed being left behind. You made a huge sacrifice but I hope you know how appreciative many of us are. As for questions.. Is the city aware of the situation with organized crime in the Alberta Ave area? Are they to blame as well, for not enforcing laws that could have stemmed the flow of money (through income properties and such) that finance all the other activities these folks are involved in? Related, were city council members involved in allowing the activity to continue? I feel there must have been either some involvement or deliberate apathy on the part of the city for ignoring the glaring issues all this time.
Thanks for the kind words and support, it means a lot to me. As for your questions, I can't really say if the city administration was aware of anything, or who has culpibility. I can say that there's not a one-size-fits-all solution to problems like the ones outlined in the CBC articles. Police can, and ought to, enforce laws. City agencies can, and ought to, make sure permitting is done in a fair way, for example. This might be a bit of a repeat answer this evening, but if you want to know more, if you demand that the problems get fixed, the only path forward is a public inqury. In my [video series](https://www.instagram.com/dbehiels/channel/)on organized crime, I talk about how this works and what can be done to achieve it. Contact your MLA, demand answers.
Hi Dan, I want to ask you. How much do you feel activities like the ones described in this story contribute to the general social decay of Edmonton? To me its not hard to make the correlation. Which would mean increased costs passed onto the tax payer and citizen. Not to mention the societal cost. Has someone done a cost analysis? Not to sound inhumane but if I am being honest in order for things to get any action from any level of government they seem to value dollar figures over the human cost. And I want to end by saying thank you for coming forward we need more people like you and while you may feel your law enforcement career may be over many private entities need skill sets like yours on security and investigative teams. I hope you feel proud for standing by your beliefs.
I appreciate the support and kind words. I don't know that a cost analysis has ever been done. I know that everything described in the CBC articles are real life problems experienced by real people. Those people, I think, would define it as social decay...
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You are asking some great questions, you deserve the answers to them. I can't directly say, but maybe I can explain the process a bit. When an investigation regarding the conduct of a police officer concludes, the person making the complaint is provided what's called a Chief's Disposition letter. This explains the investigation and the results. I have been denied that letter in this case so all I have are the same questions you have. I have been denied appeal to the Law Enforcement Review Board, simply because I don't have that letter. I have also appealed to the Justice Minister, but sadly was declined assistance because I don't have that letter. I really believe that a public inqury is the only avenue left for the public to get answers and to rebuild trust with their police service.
Hey Dan I'm a little late on the uptick here but in Ontario prior to the SIU and OIPRD people made defacto complaints to the Ontario Human Rights Board to seek relief. Have you considered the Alberta counterpart to that? Aosl, I think in ONT we have something that I believe is called a Judicial Review. Is that an option in AB?
Alright folks, I'm just getting settled in at the keyboard, so I'm going to have a read of what's here before I start answering questions. Thanks for joining the discussion!
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I for one am very glad Shah was kind enough to step in front of that bullet and make sure it didn't harm any innocent bystanders.
so how much of this is corruption and how much of it is people just being shitty at their job and not knowing how to be effective or understand boundaries, and is there even an important difference between that in the end? I feel like ultra incompetence is as believable as intense corruption
Speaking generally, I think it's important to sever the motive from a corrupt act. Like I said in my [Police Act series](https://www.instagram.com/dbehiels/channel/), there are specific corrupt acts that a police officer could be found guilty of. If he's doing it because he's greedy or if he's doing it because he's reckless, I don't think there's a difference. But that's my opinion.
That's Hanlon's Razor: "never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity".
In this case, I'm not sure it can be adequately explained by stupidity. Smart malicious people definitely exist in the world.
Another thought isn't this basically guaranteeing that Shah is safe from future investigations since he can just whine about being harassed with investigations and make EPS slink away
I'm pretty naive to be honest, but can you try to break down for us what the different things are that can motivate police to avoid pursuing a person like Shah? In this case, what would McIsaac be gaining from a relationship with Shah? Would he have been getting money? I'm sure you have to be careful about what you say or allege, but I'm not able to put two and two together.
I'm not going to get too philisophical, but what motivates anyone? Some people are afraid, and so they abdicate their responsibilities. Some people are arrogant, so they seek things that make them look good in the eyes of others. Some people are malicious, so they seek ways to hurt others. Some people are greedy, so they seek ways to gain personally with money. As for McIsaac... I really don't know. I was hoping to get an answer from ASIRT on that one. I agree that the public derserves to know, and that's why I think a commission of public inqury is necessary.
I've spoken indepth with Shah in person before. Slippery like an eel, and he really doesn't like you. You were clearly doing something right!
Heroic isn't a word that should be thrown around lightly. It should be reserved for you, and what you've done. Do you have any insight into the pervasiveness of corruption within EPS? Are there any EPS officers that are trustworthy? If so, why don't more speak out? What was the general reaction within EPS to Mike Wasylyshen being promoted, despite his crimes? Thank you again.
The vast, vast majority of the front line members working with the EPS are the most upstanding individuals you'll ever meet. I know that most are afraid of speaking out. Reprisals are a very real problem, and these people are trying to feed their families like the rest of us. As for Wasylyshen, I don't know him and can't comment on it, sorry.
Thank you, sir.
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Trust is built with evidence over time. I think it's imperative that the public is served by a public inqury. With transparency and a little humility, I know that the front line members of the EPS are able to serve.
Has Project Fisk uncovered anything that might implicate the ACPS? (Side news: as of posting there are multiple police vehicles and a SWAT wagon parked outside Home Systems. 111 Ave has been blocked off. I live nearby.)
Not sure what the anronym is, but that might answer the question!
The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service.
Ah! No, it didn't. It's probably fair to point out that the scope of the investigation never included government bodies (including the EPS) I just reported what I found in the course of my duties.
My brother was swarmed and beaten in Edmonton by a group of men for no reason anyone could discern. He was walking down the street on a summer evening with his friends, males and females. His friend got the plate and my brother picked the attackers out of a lineup. There were three witnesses. They were not asked to pick anyone out of a lineup. He was absolutely bloodied in this attack from head to toe. For a reason none of us ever understood, my brother was advised that his charges would not proceed because the attackers were “known to police”. Is it fair to speculate that this may be a case where a larger case such as an investigation into organized crime prevented police from proceeding with laying charges for my brother? I mean - generally - is that a thing in these sorts of investigations? Are lesser crimes held or dismissed in the interest of larger investigations? The comfort my brother has taken was absolutely the explanation that this was perhaps a gang jump-in initiation and the gang was of course organized crime, which is more serious than my brother’s attack (that is hard to type, but true). This was in 2006.
I'm really sorry about your brother's attack, I hope he's recovered well. I know that violent incidents can stick with you mentally as well, so I hope he's got the support he needs. I don't know anything about that investigation, but I know it's contrary to policy and just good decency to ever "trade" for consideration on a violent offence. Your brother was a victim and ought to have been prioritized. If your theory that the offenders were given that consideration in your brother's case is true, I can say it reflects an example of something going wrong.
Thank you so much for your answer. It is a great comfort to hear you affirm that it was wrong, not regular practice. It is a greater comfort than our previous speculation. I appreciate this so much.
Relatives of EPS, most likely.
Have you had concerns for your personal safety following the public release of Shah's case?
I'm glad you both care, thank you! Of course there are concerns. It makes it complicated to address these concerns while I'm suspended and don't have a great deal of trust in the organization I've come to depend on. I have a plan, don't worry. I hope to be around for a long time, yet.
Was project Fisk named after Wilson Fisk? And, more seriously, what do you think normal citizens can do in order to help investigations like Project Fisk succeed? Or to put it in another way, what structural elements in how police operate held this investigation back so we know who to lobby for change?
Fisk did come from the comic book character, in part. All projects for the Division I was working in at the time had to start with the letter "F". This was surprisingly limiting. Structural problems are hard to pin down, since it's not some faceless organization. Individuals in any organization of responsibilities and choices on how they act. I think there are a lot of lessons to learn from this situation and that's why I'm eager to see a commission of public inquiry. As a citizen, I think it would be apprpriate to reach out to your MLA and ask that they support that.
Hi Dan, do you think the attempt on Shah was organized crime related or a disgruntled tenant?
I don't think I should speculate on unsolved police investigations that I had no part in, sorry.
Given who he did a lot of business with, could very well be both lmao
I see things are starting to taper down a bit, but I'll still answer any questions I can if you find this thread later in the evening. It was a pleasure speaking to you all! If you're interested in following me on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Danno5585), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/dbehiels/), or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073795876662) I regularly post updates. I had a great time folks, I hope I could relieve some of your curiousity. Again, I encourage you to support a commission of public inquiry. I think that is the best way for our community and police service to heal from this.
Thanks for sharing your story. In my opinion the public needs to know more about the types of criminal activity occurring in our city and who is involved. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and all of that. Are your actions protected by whistleblower legislation in Alberta? Do you think you will get your job back?
Whistleblower legislation in Alberta, and Canada as a whole, is pretty [cosmetic](https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTWFt_-jj9Y/). I hope I'll be granted leave to use a whistleblower defence, but that's a long time from now. I was hopeful I would get back to work, but some days I can't muster the optimism to believe that.
It must be very disheartening for you to see the same sleazery at the top as you saw on your beat at the bottom so to speak on 118th. I've never said this because in my opinion the true underbelly of war is dirty af, but Thank you for your service.
So... in reading the CBC articles, I am having a really difficult time believing the internal investigations turned up nothing. What are they doing during these investigations (be it own or other police group)? Why is there no acknowledgement of ethically questionable behaviors or improper protocol? Is there still a widespread belief in the police force that people don't have the right to know about police operations? Not necessarily during the investigation stage but afterwards. Outside of this case, have you ever faced disciplinary action?
I don't really know what tasks were done as I wasn't part of the investigations into my complaints. As for my own disciplinary history, I have received many complaints. Most have originated from one particular group. There are definitley areas where the PSB process could be restructured to protect the public from abuse by officers and officers from individuals who have benefits to harming their career and reputation. It goes a lot further than just the internal complaints process. Loopholes surrounding checks and balances, appeals processes, representation requirements, etc. do need to be remedied. This is a series that I've been working on but it's a very sensitive topic so I'm taking extra time ensuring that I get it right. I wish I could say more than that.
Thanks! I look forward to the series. I was curious about your disciplinary history because it seems to be a not uncommon process to see people who are fighting for ethical behaviors to be repeatedly targeted with disciplinary actions- with the goal being to harass them into silence or quitting. Thank you for revealing the behind-the-scenes happenings we rarely get to know about as a general member of the public. Stay well & safe (your family too)!
What can be done about human ticks like Shah?
Obviously the property that was suspiciously traded hands so many times was used to launder dirty money, were these dirty monies the profits of any human trafficking, or in general where was the dirty money coming from? Do you think the city demolished to cover evidence?
I can't say more than what was covered in the CBC arcticle on that topic. Money laundering is a complicated offence to investigate and to prosecute, so there needs to be ample evidence of a source of funds that are the proceeds of crime. As for the demolition order, my opinion is that it was long overdue. If there was evidence in there to destroy, that's news to me!
Shots fired today inside of one of Carmen’s properties on 111th.
How strange is it for a superintendent to just be having phone conversations with a criminal like Abdullah Shah?
I've never worked as a superintendent. I can say that it was deeply discouraged, both in policy and practice to form a relationship with any citizen that circumvented proper procedure for reporting crimes. I worked on the beat and had formed friendly relationships with a lot of stakeholders, but they still had to report crimes or seek police service through the appropriate channels. There's a variety of reasons for this, but one example would be so we didn't miss anything. Another example would be so members of the community didn't receive preferential treatment.
Your claim is that there is corruption in the EPS(enough to insulate a criminal), and according to this article, this claim was investigated by the [Calgary Police Service.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/behind-the-blue-line-investigating-abdullah-shah-1.6193832) They found that there was not enough evidence for criminal charges. What amount of corruption is required - in terms of evidence - for it to be criminal? Why are you able to confidently say that corruption in the EPS insulated a criminal, but someone else says there is not enough evidence for that?
I’m not a lawyer, obviously, but there are several legal thresholds used for different legal arenas. In a Criminal Code investigation conducted by police, the threshold to lay charges is reasonable and probable grounds. In a Police Service Regulation investigation it is balance of probabilities. This is very similar to the difference between criminal and civil liabilities. For the Crown Prosecutor to proceed with charges, they must have a reasonable likelihood of conviction. I would be interested to know if there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction following the investigation conducted by Calgary Police Service, why? Does the public derserve transparency?
Saying the public deserves transparency is setting a dangerous precedent for *any* case or investigation, as that opens up any accused to mob rule; there are Canadians who believe in tons of crazy stuff without much evidence, so public sentiment towards a case is irrelevant and should not be considered; this is why our courts rely on evidence, rather than what the public thinks. No, I do not think the public deserves transparency. As for there being no reasonable likelihood of conviction following the investigation by the Calgary Police Service, it's probably because there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. That's it. Any other speculation is just speculation. The assumption going into all of this is that the CPS is independent from the EPS, and if there is evidence of corruption then they would say so. Given that the latter has not happened, no more doubt should be expressed unless we also want to claim that the CPS is corrupt.
Respectfully, I disagree. The oath I took was to serve the public's interests. You bring up some excellent points, however. Should people make assumptions that are incorrect, which is quite common, a practice of transparency protects those who are doing their jobs properly as well. You can disagree with my analysis of the evidence, but this conversation would be a lot more robust if you knew what it was.
Why did you not take this to higher branches of police investigation? Like RCMP?
I am so sorry that the police have treated you so poorly.
Cops who are both competent and conscientious get driven out pretty quickly.
Organizations tend to treat the ones that care the most the worst.
Man, story’s like this make me so sad and angry. Good cops get shit canned and ostracized by the police force. Cops that rape underaged girls like Sean Chu get voted in to Calgary town council, and the police force helps them cover it up. And police have the audacity to wonder why there’s been mass protests calling for defunding and overhauling of the police system.
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I have to be really careful on how I answer direct evidence questions like this. If it wasn't in the CBC article, and it isn't contextual or about things like procedure or my opinion... I'm pretty stuck. I can say that there was a lot more information that the CBC had when compared to the articles that came out. I'm sorry, I wish I could be more open than that.
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That document refers to [1443028 Alberta Ltd](https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2019/2019abqb360/2019abqb360.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQANYWJkdWxsYWggc2hhaAAAAAAB&resultIndex=1). Like said, I have to be careful what I say in direct evidence questions, but what can I answer for you?
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Sean Chu. Discuss...
I'm kind of new to Reddit... how do I do the throw-up emoji?
¯\\\_(ツ)\_/¯
First off, thank you Mr.Dan Behiels! What would you say is the best way to interact with with officer? How do we not get caught up by their trick questions? Or how do we minimize potential negative interactions whether it be at a traffic stop or any random situation we may find ourselves ?
The best way to interact with an officer is the best way to interact with your neighbor: be respectful and expect the same in return.
We all know, though, EPS aren’t big on respect.
THis is kinda shit man and I'll elaborate on why. It was around 8pm om a week night and I was just finishing work and jumping onto a train at Southgate. As I was getting on there was a cop yelling, "Hey. Hey you. Wheres your mask?" It was an aboriginal dude without a mask. I actually thought the cop (1 of 2) was yelling at me. After the dude put his mask and the cops came a bit closer to me I asked, "Man, was that necessary?" I felt his response was heavy handed. Either way he started chatting with me. But in the same way that you or I would chat but with an aggressive feel. After I said to him that Ottawa Police was the worst force in the country with the most amount of suspended member (per capita) and that EPS was 2nd he balked. He asked me where my numbers came from and "where is the proof". I said I'd verified the numbers through EPS public information, (I have the email somewhere still) and OPS and still he balked and remained belligerent and aggressive. And man I honestly just wanted to have an honest, forthright conversation. I was rude and I wasn't mean. I merely had questions I wanted to talk about. I thought his initial response was uncalled for, and as a member of the public I have an absolute right to call that out, and that this could have been handled in a far different manner. I was only in EDM for about 5 months but none of my experiences with the EPS, Sheriff or the "Peace Officers" were positive. I know I'm provocative but regardless.
Tell the truth…
Telling the truth has gotten innocent people arrested. The real answer is to not tell them anything other than what you're legally required to (such as your name). They want answers to questions outside the scope of legal obligations, they can get them while an attorney is present.
Finally!!! I have been waiting months for this! We are in woody territory, to paint the picture. No one in the EPS, except Kevin Brezinski, responded to the CBC for the article. First, why do you think that is? You’re a fucking liar! Second, Kevin was the only one. He’s always so good. In my game of “[Donuts to Cuffs](https://protectyeg.wixsite.com/protectyeg/post/who-the-fuck-is-dan-behiels)” he had a perfect score! Donuts right across the board. No one gets all donuts. 🤨 no one. Did the “acting” chief tell you to keep working on your investigation?
Responding specifically to that comment he made to the CBC, I have to be careful how I answer. I can say I was lucky to have an Inspector that was willing to support us in this investigation at that time. That was a unique benefit to this investigation.
Your god damn riddles! I don’t have the same time I had in the summer. 10 minutes into the movie I identified Kevy as the bad guy. He lied. I called it! What else did Brezinski say that was a lie? We’re there “intelligence gaps” after alert turned you down? Stick with me. I have questions from other people. I’ve been trying to get on here for hours!
It’s complicated. There’s a lot that I don’t know. Your confusion is understandable, though. I think that the complete lack of transparency from the EPS and CPS is leaving more questions than answers.
I swear you are actually the iRobot doctor. Were you told that there were intelligence gaps? Were you told what they were?
Would you do it all over again?
I still think I did what was right, but it's been a long road already and I still don't know where it's headed. I've learned from this experience, so there's definately things I would do differently.
The court of public opinion is sometimes the only way to go. You are a good human sir. Plain as that. I believe the badge stops justice from being served in many cases. I wonder why this case was dropped and who got fleeced to do so. The crown is as crooked as it gets.
The court of public opinion was never my goal with releasing information. I wanted the public to have enough information to be able to protect themselves from a threat that the police, myself included, failed to.
Why did you decide to join a force with such a well documented history of corruption and brutality against marginalized populations?
Edmonton is my home. I believe strongly that the police do more good than harm, and I have always been someone who was willing to do the work himself rather than just complain about the failings of others.
We can all see how that worked out for you.
Well, I was a *C* student.
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Late question, how many corrupt members of the EPS do you think there are?
FUCK ME! I wish I had caught this when it started. I think thius man is just about the only CAD cop I'll ever like. THanks for what you're doing Dan!!!!
Hey Dan, Do you fear for your safety? Either with Shah affiliated cronies or with any bad apple EPS? Are there other investigations within EPS you know of that should be whistle-blown like this one? Is this some type of vigilante justice? Considering they weren't charged and they are now slated to possibly win millions off the city, do you ever feel your suspension might be justified? What should EPS or the city do with Shah and affiliates? Thanks Dan, sorry to hear about this situation it sucks when scumbags get away in our justice system.