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Edmonton Police Work on Guidelines for Technology Use Following Backlash of DNA Phenotype

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The service aims to create “a more robust consultation process to better understand the use of new technologies and their potential consequences.”

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Edmonton Police and its oversight agency use technology as a framework to solicit investigative cues after the release of a “highly generalized” image of a black man with a DNA phenotype sparked public criticism. I will work on it.

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EPS Community Safety and Welfare Chief Operating Officer Enina Okere told the Edmonton Police Commission on Thursday that the decisions behind the release of photos based on DNA from a 2019 sexual assault investigation I have outlined about

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provoked a backlash from the public to broadly characterize black suspects, and To not only condemn but criminalize racialized groups. A few days later, EPS canceled the release of the image.

Okere told the commission that the images provided new clues about the incident.

“But let me be clear, there was also unintended damage that came with the release of highly generalized computer-generated imagery. That’s the heart of the matter,” Okere said. “The nature of this crime, the fact that this woman was racist and marginalized, does not justify the impact that public photography has had on our city’s black community.”

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As a result of the criticism, Okere said the service aims to create “a more robust consultation process to better understand the use of new technologies and their potential impact.” said.

The service will update its ethical review process to ensure that public safety concerns are clearly demonstrated, that actions are consistent with the legal framework, and that the technology’s usefulness and Check its limits. EPS periodically reviews and evaluates the use of these technologies.

The Commissioner consists of members of the Community Council of the Chief, the Commissioner and other members to “evaluate the current and future use of technology” and provide a report to the Standing IT Committee of the Police Commission. Approved the EPS’s motion to provide draft proposals to the committee to be approved.

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Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee told reporters following the commission’s meeting that the use of new technology must be balanced with input from the community in its ability to solve crimes and help victims of crime. said there is

“That’s what I love about coming together and building a straw dog of what really looks like best practice and a mechanism to make sure there’s a buffer to move forward,” he said. “That’s what we’re seeing. Any plans to release more public photos now? No.”

The committee also heard a presentation from Statistics Canada on the collection of race-based data.

StatsCan is working on guidelines for collecting race-based data used by law enforcement services, aiming for full rollout in 2024.

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Sean Tout, executive director of EPS’s information management and intelligence division, said the service will first utilize race-based data collection criteria when people self-identify their race. He said EPS is aiming to have the new record-keeping system in place in the spring of 2023, with staff trained in data collection by the fall.

The data will be reported to StatsCan as soon as it is ready for receipt, possibly in early 2024.

McFee said race-based data can help identify whether certain races are overrepresented.

“Additionally, it allows us to more accurately reflect what we are actually dealing with in the community,” he said. “And that’s what the racialized minority he community wants.”

The committee also submitted a motion to write to the Alberta government advocating collection of data based on race.

ajunker@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/JunkerAnna

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