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The first anniversary of the tragic line-of-duty deaths of constables Brett Ryan, 30, and Travis Jordan, 35, raised difficult questions for the Edmonton Police Service.
“There’s nothing that we could have done to respond differently. Our folks did their job very well, and paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.”
The men were gunned down by 16-year-old Roman Zoltan Shewchuk on March 16, 2023, outside his Inglewood apartment where they were investigating a domestic disturbance. Shewchuk also shot and wounded his mother in the aftermath, before fatally turning the gun on himself. Days earlier, he shot and wounded a Pizza Hut employee.
The killing was done by ambush, he said.
“There’s only one person that’s responsible for this and it’s not by the mistake of our officers.”
But in retrospect, McFee is clearly troubled by the signs that something wasn’t right with Shewchuk.
“There was a health interaction with this individual several times in the weeks past,” he said.
‘Better information sharing’
McFee is calling for more inter-agency collaboration to identify trouble spots that could trigger tragedy.
“We’ve got to continue to focus on these people accountable before they do this stuff, period. And I mean, if that means better information sharing between the health system and the justice system I mean, come on, it’s 2024. Let’s get on with it,” he said.
McFee noted how various agencies worked together to bring about a navigation centre for vulnerable people when the encampments were being taken down.
“You have the people that can make the decisions and you get it done,” he said.
“We always look too often at moving from one system to the other. ‘It’s not a policing issue, it’s a health issue.’ The reality is, it touches all those issues,” he said.
A study of Shewchuk’s case would probably go back to his time in the education system, McFee said.
“I think it’s just actually putting people in a room, getting over ourselves, and saying, ‘You know what, when safety is in jeopardy, let’s just figure out how we intervene versus how we react after it happens.’”
There’s an obligation to look at the justice system, the health system, the social service system, the education system, he said.
“I think we’re getting a lot better at that,” he said.
A lot of the city’s homicides have been committed by people who were previously in custody or had done previous bad acts, McFee said Friday.
“You know, sometimes there’s just evil in this world and we need to try to figure out how we’re going to hold those individuals accountable earlier on,” he said.
Private ceremony
On Saturday, one year since the officers were killed, city police planned to host a private ceremony to honour their fallen colleagues. The High Level Bridge is to shine blue in the evening.
In conjunction with the chief’s Friday press conference, the widows of Ryan and Jordan thanked those who have offered support over the past year. Both women provided statements to the media.
Ashley Ryan remembers ‘a true guardian’
“We have been deeply moved by the continued support and kindness shown to our family and Brett’s EPS family throughout this challenging year. The outpouring of love, generosity, and solidarity has touched our hearts in ways we cannot adequately express,” Ashley Ryan said.
“We miss Brett every day. Though his absence resonates throughout our lives, his laughter, charisma, compassion, devotion, and fierce love for his family, friends, and colleagues are forever etched in our memories of him.
“Brett gave his life in service to others, and today, we wish to honour his courage, dedication, selflessness, and profound sacrifice. Like many of his brothers and sisters who don the uniform, he embodied the ethos of a true guardian,” she said, thanking EPS for paying tribute to his legacy.
“We are forever grateful for your service and unwavering commitment to our family and those who served alongside him. Thank you to the community for embracing his spirit and ensuring his memory lives on,” she said.
Ashley gave birth to their son after his father was killed.
Annie Jordan recalls ‘a beacon of strength’
“We want to convey our deepest appreciation for the unwavering support and compassion shown to our family and Travis’ EPS family throughout this difficult year. The outpouring of love from the community has been truly humbling,” she wrote.
“There is a hole in our hearts. Travis wasn’t just a police officer but a beacon of strength. He had a profound impact on so many lives, and his love for his family, friends, colleagues, and job was palpable in every action he took. His deep roots in Nova Scotia shaped him into the remarkable man he became, and his legacy will forever echo through the Alberta plains and the memories of those fortunate enough to know him,” Annie Jordan said.
“Our hearts ache with the absence of Travis, but we find solace in knowing that he found his calling and bravely stood alongside his family in blue to serve a greater purpose. Thank you, EPS; we are forever grateful for all you have done to support us and honour Travis’ legacy. It has been a constant source of solace and hope during this challenging journey. Thank you to the community; your kind embrace and thoughtful tributes have provided us immeasurable comfort,” she said.
