John McDougall, a long-time member of the Edmonton police commission and its current chair, has announced that he will be spending the next two years serving on the oversight board from Portugal. McDougall, who has been a member of the commission for seven years, revealed in a statement released on Friday that he is retiring from his career in the Canadian Armed Forces and will be relocating overseas.
While McDougall’s term as the commission chair is set to end on December 31, 2024, he has made it clear that he will not seek reappointment to that position. However, his appointment as a commission member is valid until the end of 2026, and McDougall has expressed his intention to fulfill the remainder of his term despite his move to Europe.
In his statement, McDougall emphasized that his ties to the Edmonton community remain strong even as he embarks on this new chapter in Portugal. He pointed out that he is not the first commission member to reside outside of Edmonton, citing that there are no residency requirements for commissioners in municipal or provincial regulations.
The Edmonton police commission plays a crucial role in overseeing the allocation of the Edmonton Police Service budget and establishing policing policies. Currently, the commission is focused on the task of hiring a new police chief following Dale McFee’s resignation in February.
A spokesperson for the police commission confirmed that McDougall was unavailable for an interview on Friday as he was already in Portugal, where it was late at night. Despite being overseas, McDougall has assured that he is committed to fulfilling his duties on the commission and is willing to return for in-person business as needed.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
The 12-member police commission includes two city councillors and 10 civilian members, with three commissioners, including McDougall, appointed by the provincial government. McDougall disclosed that he sought approval from the minister’s office for his decision to continue serving on the commission from Portugal, and received their support.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, when asked about McDougall’s decision, expressed his confidence in McDougall’s leadership and the valuable experience he brings to the commission during a period of change within the Edmonton Police Service. Ellis noted that McDougall remains engaged with the commission’s activities, both in person and remotely.
McDougall has also stated that he will not be seeking the honorarium typically provided to commissioners for the remainder of his term. He has assured the board of his availability to return for in-person commission business as required.
Overall, McDougall’s decision to continue serving on the Edmonton police commission from Portugal reflects his dedication to the community and commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities despite being overseas. His experience and leadership will undoubtedly continue to be valuable assets to the commission during this transitional period.
