Bartamaha -Edmonton’s deputy police chief is adding his two cents surrounding a controversy involving the Somali community and one of Edmonton’s detectives.

Members of the local Somali community have sent an official letter to Edmonton’s deputy police chief expressing their concern about some recent remarks made by police detective Bill Clark about the shooting death of a young man.

The shooting, which happened at the Papyrus Restaurant and Lounge around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, claimed the life of a 23-year-old man and sent another person to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Clark had said officers were getting no cooperation from witnesses who may have seen who pulled the trigger in Edmonton’s first homicide of 2011.

Dozens of people were inside the bar at the time, and Clark said he was convinced someone saw something that may be crucial to the investigation.

The lead detective was upset when he vented to reporters about the lack of cooperation from witnesses in the case.

The president of the Alberta Somali Community Centre, who wrote the letter, said some of Clark’s comments were unfair, irresponsible and unreflective of the stellar working relationship between the Somali community and the Edmonton Police Service (EPS).

Acting Police Chief David Korol says the letter has been given to a superintendent who met with community members. He says they will deal with concerns raised. Korol added the relationship between the Somali community and police is strong.

“Detective Clark spoke out of frustration in one particular incident but really everyone is on the same page and that is to solve the homicide and to prevent further violence,” said Korol.

Korol did not comment on whether he will ask Clark to retract his comments. No timeline has been given for how long it will take EPS to respond to the concerns addressed in the letter.

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Source:- edmonton.CTN

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