The Edmonton Police Commission have appointed two Deputy Chiefs to the position of interim Chief of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) following the retirement of former Chief Dale McFee.
The police commission says Deputy Chief Devin Laforce and Deputy Chief Warren Driechel will begin their role as interim Chiefs on Feb. 21, and will work on rotating schedules until a permanent Chief of Police is selected.
“The Commission received interest from two strong applicants for this role and we’ve decided to hire both as interim Chiefs of the EPS,” says Shazia Amiri, Vice Chair of the Commission. “We look forward to having Warren and Devin provide their diverse perspectives and ideas to help improve policing and public safety in our city.”
“We hope this also creates a smooth transition for all operations and the frontline while the EPS continues to provide Edmontonians with its vital public service as we seek to hire a full-time Chief.”
About the interim Chiefs
Both Laforce and Driechel have a combined 50 years of service with the EPS.
Laforce started with the EPS in 1999 on patrol in the West Division, while Driechel started in 1997 on patrol in the North Division.
The Edmonton Police Commission chose Laforce for the interim role due to his career where he led critical investigative and operational initiatives, as well as focusing on intelligence-led policing, major criminal investigations, and forensic advancements.
“I’m honoured to serve as interim Chief and to lead alongside my colleague, interim Chief Driechel”, says Laforce. “I am grateful to the Commission for this opportunity to lead this incredible team of dedicated members. Together, we will continue to support our members, advance policing excellence, and build stronger connections with our community”.
Laforce has served as Deputy Chief of the Investigations and Support Services Bureau where he oversaw the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), the Investigative Support Division (ISD), the Operational Support Division (OSD) and investigative teams in ALERT, which are all major divisions within the EPS that investigate various matters such as homicides, organized crime, financial crimes and domestic violence.
As for Driechel, he was selected for the role due to his career where he “led and developed several police intelligence units and programs, worked in organized crime and gang investigations, provided expertise in recruit training and spearheaded changes in data organization and technology development,” said the EPS in a statement.
In his recent role as Deputy Chief, he directed the Community Safety and Well Being Bureau, which includes the Crime Suppression and Community Operations Division and the Integrated Community Safety Division, which are all divisions within the EPS that focus on a variety of community services and offender management and support.
“I’m honoured to be Edmonton’s interim Police Chief over the coming months and wish to thank the Commission for the incredible opportunity to lead a service I am proud to represent,” says interim Chief Warren Driechel. “I look forward to leading the service alongside my colleague, interim Chief Laforce and know we will continue to actively decrease crime and disorder, while connecting Edmontonians with the services they need most.”