Edmonton's police chief Mike Boyd told the media Tuesday he plans to take immediate action to repair his relationship with rank-and-file members and will ensure their concerns are addressed.
Boyd stated during a press conference that he "got the message" after he was the target of a controversial poster campaign that circulated throughout police headquarters.
"I think it can be disappointing for any person that truly cares about the people that he or she works with. To have some people, I know it's not all people, but to have some people or any person express that it's disappointing," he said.
The poster showed a photo of Boyd and stated: "I am sorry I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am."
Boyd said he will take immediate steps to rectify the situation, meet with members in small groups throughout the service, form a patrol members committee to meet regularly with him to deal with officers' concerns and he plans to hold more meetings with junior officers.
Boyd stated that it was incorrectly reported that he was furious and ordered a criminal investigation following the release of the poster. He insisted that was false and he never intended on pursuing an investigation against the people involved in the campaign.
Late last week, Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel said the latest controversy centered around the police chief shouldn't concern Edmontonians and he supports Boyd if he wants to keep his post through the end of his contract in 2011.
With files from Laura Tupper
