A week into the job as Edmonton top cop and Rod Knecht is admitting his homicide department is overworked and needs some help. So, 16 additional officers have been added to the homicide section to assist in ongoing investigations.

Currently, Edmonton's homicide rate is the highest in the country.

Police have said the city's 25th homicide appears to have been a case of mistaken identity.

Abdi Ali Mohamud, 43, was fatally shot in the area of 86 St. and 106 A Ave. earlier this month. Another male who was with Mohamud that night was also shot, but survived.

And despite Edmonton recording its 25th homicide for the year, Knecht maintains the streets of Edmonton are safe. he says most crimes are down with the exception of homicides and sexual assaults.

He describes his approach as a four-pillar strategy based on communication focusing on building relationships with all communities.

"Not everyone trusts the police and you have to work and understand that and work to build up that trust," he said.

Knecht says he is also working to address complaints from the Somali community calling for change in the system.

The police chief says the first step begins with communication, then increases to the visibility of officers and recruiting.

"What we want of the EPS is that it represent the community we police. It makes our job easier and better it speaks to the communication issue. We deal with issues better as there is an individual from within."

Mahamad Accord, president of Edmonton's Alberta Somali Community Centre, is skeptical of what the police chief is selling. He says this is something he's heard before -- that the community is ready to work with police.

Accord thinks there is still plenty of work that needs to be done.

"They haven't been able to recruit someone who knows the language and the culture making it easier for the police to make headway on some of the issues," he said.

During his swearing-in ceremony, Knecht sent out the message that no one group will be solving problems in Edmonton without cooperation.

"When I think about what defines excellence in policing, I think of the African proverb, 'if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to far, go together,'" he said.

With files from Serena Mah