Chief Katie McLellan

This morning, I joined our community at the @FieldOfCrosses for a ceremony recognizing the first responders & animals who served alongside our Armed Forces during times of war. Their roles may have been different, but each was united by a commitment to serve. Today, we remember their courage, their contributions and the sacrifices made in service to others. It was an honour to stand alongside members of the Calgary Police Service and our community in remembrance.

Operation Order may be wrapping up for the night, but our commitment to public safety continues every day. The work we saw today reflects what our members do every day: show up, listen, respond to complex situations, make difficult decisions and connect people with support. All with the goal of keeping Calgarians safe. Over the course of this operation, I’ve been proud to see our officers working alongside our partners to address public safety concerns, engage with businesses and community members, and connect vulnerable Calgarians with resources – all the while remaining committed, compassionate and professional. We know there is no single solution to the challenges facing our city, and meaningful change will not happen overnight. But through consistent presence, thoughtful enforcement, strong partnerships and genuine connections with the people we serve, we will continue moving forward together. I would like to thank Mayor @JeromyYYC for his support and for taking the time to interact with our members as we all work together towards the shared goal of a safer city Thank you to everyone who played a part in Operation Order, and to our members who continue this important work every day.

Last night’s Ward 6 town hall was exactly the kind of conversation I value. Calgarians came prepared with thoughtful questions about policing in their communities, traffic safety and the issues they are seeing close to home. I appreciated the opportunity to listen, answer questions honestly and talk about what we are seeing across the city and what we need to keep pace as Calgary grows. That is ultimately what our recommended 2027–2030 Business Plan and Budget is about: making sure we have the people, tools and infrastructure we need to help keep Calgarians safe. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come out, and to Mayor Farkas, Councillor Pantazopoulos and the Ward 6 team for bringing people together.

Today, we shared the key themes from our operational and investigative review of the search for 11-year-old Parker. First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Parker’s family. His loss was a tragedy that continues to impact everyone that knew him, the community and hundreds of people who were a part of the response. Reviews like this are a normal part of how we operate. After every incident, it is our responsibility to look closely at what we did, what worked well and what we can do better next time. I know that this case had an extraordinary impact on the public and that is why I committed to sharing as much information about the review with the community as possible. I believe people deserve to understand what we learned. We cannot change the outcome of this case. But what we are doing now is learning from it, making meaningful improvements and ensuring that we are better prepared the next time our community needs us. Read more about the review: newsroom.calgary.ca/largest-…

The strength of the Calgary Police Service lies in our people. As we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our growing city, we have three opportunities for accomplished, forward-thinking leaders to join our Executive Leadership Team: • Deputy Chief, Bureau of Operational Support • Sworn/Civilian Deputy Chief, Human Resources • Sworn/Civilian Deputy Chief, Bureau of Service Support These Deputy Chiefs will be instrumental in shaping the future of our Service, supporting our members, driving innovation and strengthening public safety in Calgary for years to come. If you see yourself in one of these roles, apply by Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026. Details and how to apply: calgary.ca/careers.html#jobs

Those who serve build strong bonds, and a loss within one service community is felt far beyond it. The Calgary Police Service stands with our Canadian Armed Forces colleagues following the tragedy at CFB Wainwright. We mourn with the families and friends who have lost loved ones and keep those who were injured close in our thoughts. Our deepest condolences are with the entire military community.

I’m proud to share the Service’s recommended 2027 to 2030 Business Plan and Budget.   This recommendation reflects the realities our officers and civilian subject matter experts face each day, the growing needs of our city and our commitment to being transparent about the resources required to keep Calgarians safe.   Read the recommendation: calgarypolice.ca/content/dam…

Calgary remains one of the safest major cities in Canada, but the demands on policing continue to grow. In my remarks to the Calgary Police Commission last week, I shared a snapshot of the challenges our members are responding to every day, from firearm violence and complex investigations to mental health crises, traffic safety and community safety initiatives. Behind every call for service, investigation and community initiative are dedicated members working to make a difference for Calgarians. I'm so proud of the work they do every day. 💙🚓

When there is danger, Calgarians expect someone to run toward it. Every day, our officers do exactly that. Behind every call for service is a human being, a family member and a life that matters. When an interaction ends in violence, the impact is felt by many, especially the friends and family of those involved, but also the officers who respond. While Calgary remains a safe city, calls are becoming more unpredictable and dangerous, putting increasing pressure on officers and resources across the city. Here are my thoughts on the growing dangers facing police officers and why we must ensure officers have the capacity, training and tools they need to keep Calgary safe: calgaryherald.com/opinion/th…

What many Calgarians don't see when a major incident makes the news is the number of people and specialized resources required behind the scenes. It's important that we provide insight into what it takes to keep Calgary safe when these incidents occur. For example, during a six-hour period last Saturday night and into the early morning hours on Sunday, our officers responded to a series of significant incidents in rapid succession, including a serious stabbing, dangerous driving events, a suspicious death and a fatal shooting. As new incidents unfolded, officers, investigators and specialized units were redeployed across the city to address immediate public safety risks and support active investigations. These events occurred while our members were already managing several major investigations from earlier in the week and operating with reduced staffing due to member injuries and other operational demands. The Cornerstone homicide alone required every available patrol unit in Calgary to support efforts to locate a suspect vehicle, while homicide investigators were simultaneously managing multiple active investigations across the city. Over a four-day period, the same team was called upon to support four major investigations, in addition to other operational demands. Nights like this highlight the reality that serious incidents rarely occur one at a time. They also demonstrate why maintaining the people, expertise and specialized resources needed to respond across Calgary remains so important.

Today, I spoke about the officer-involved shooting that occurred early this morning. These incidents are among the most difficult circumstances our officers face, and they are never without impact. Unfortunately, situations involving violence, weapons and rapidly evolving threats have become increasingly common in our city, bringing a heavy burden for our officers, their families, our Service and the community we are here to protect. As is standard practice, ASIRT will conduct an independent investigation and we remain fully cooperative with that process. Our officers are responding to fast-moving, high-risk situations involving violence and firearms at an increasing rate. These encounters place our members, the public and the individuals involved at significant risk. The resources we deploy are not simply about officer safety. They are about creating the time, space and support needed to resolve highly volatile situations as safely as possible for everyone involved. Despite those efforts, there are times when the outcome is not what we hope for. I am grateful that no officers, nor other members of the community were injured, and I remain proud of the professionalism and courage our officers demonstrate as they continue serving Calgarians through some of the most challenging moments imaginable. 📺 The full media availability can be watched on the Calgary Police Service YouTube Channel: youtube.com/watch?v=gynauEWK…

This morning, I joined CBC Calgary Eyeopener to discuss the increasing violence facing officers and the impact it is having on frontline policing. Every day, our officers respond to complex and often unpredictable situations while working to keep Calgarians safe. Supporting their safety and well-being remains a priority as we continue serving our community. 🎧 Listen to the full interview: cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-5…

For 13 days, Calgarians carried hope for Parker. In the days since, our city has shared in the grief of a family facing an unimaginable loss. I’ve reflected on what Parker’s story revealed about our community, the extraordinary compassion shown by Calgarians, the dedication of those who searched for him, and how vital community trust and strong partnerships are during difficult situations like this. While this was not the outcome any of us hoped for, I will never forget the humanity, kindness and support shown by so many people during this difficult time. 🔗 Read the full article here: calgaryherald.com/opinion/wh…

I recently announced the re-opening of the Stephen Avenue Safety Hub, which provides a dedicated downtown base to supports a visible, coordinated police presence where it's needed most. It brings together the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Community Standards, Calgary Transit and community partners to improve collaboration and respond to the complex issues affecting our downtown core.   🤝 Strengthening partnerships between agencies 🚔 Supporting a visible safety presence downtown 🏢 Enhancing coordination and information sharing ❤️ Connecting vulnerable individuals with services and support 🌆 Building public confidence in downtown safety   Public safety cannot be achieved by any one organization alone. Through initiatives like Operation Restore and the Stephen Avenue Safety Hub, we're working together to support businesses, help vulnerable individuals access services and ensure downtown Calgary remains a place where people feel welcome, safe and comfortable spending their time.