The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) is pleased to announce the winner of the CACP/Axon Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award which recognizes excellence, dedication, and initiative to enhance community trust and create a corporate culture that is fair, supportive and inclusive. This award is presented to an individual/team who demonstrates a passion for achieving progress in this area.

This year, the award goes to Chief Innovation & Technology Officer Ron Anderson and Superintendent Derek McIntyre of the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) for their leadership role in the implementation of the Body Worn Video Redaction Partnership with Technology North. 

In June 2024, the EPS partnered with local Edmonton IT company Technology North (Tech North) to launch a research development project involving the redaction of body worn camera footage in low complexity incidents by Tech North's neurodivergent employees. The project, which employed four of Tech North's employees, all of whom are on the autism spectrum, was a success and solidified a service agreement to make Tech North's autism employment program a permanent part of the EPS' Digital Evidence and Records Management Unit.

EPS' Chief Innovation and Technology Officer Ron Anderson was instrumental in the development of this partnership and program. With the support of Derek McIntyre, Superintendent of the EPS Information and Analytics Division, this program has helped the service continue to expand its commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace and has positively impacted the local autism community.

Overall, the development project was a resounding success, with testing confirming that members of the autism employment program are completing redaction with the same speed and accuracy as the neurotypical members of the Digital Evidence and Record Management Team. As the phased deployment of body worn cameras to the remainder of the police service continues, the volume of footage requiring redaction will only increase and the Tech North team will be essential in supporting this need.

The EPS looks forward to welcoming additional members of the Tech North team in 2025. Currently, the four Tech North employees and their coach work alongside several other redaction specialists to remove any body worn camera footage that may infringe on the privacy of individuals not directly involved in a police interaction. Footage redacted by the Tech North team includes license plates on a nearby vehicle, a citizen walking past, or a computer, phone screen or paper document that contains sensitive or private information.

"We are deeply grateful to the Edmonton Police Service for their visionary partnership, which has not only advanced police transparency and accountability but also created meaningful employment opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum — a core mission of our organization," says Ling Huang, President and CEO of Technology North.

“This visionary initiative not only delivered outstanding operational results but also redefined what inclusion in policing can look like, showcasing how embracing diverse cognitive strengths can solve real challenges and create lasting community impact,” stated Elizabeth Nguyen, Co-Chair of the CACP’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

Mr. Stefan Schurman, Director of Sales at Axon Public Safety Canada, sponsor of this award, added that “At Axon, we believe in the power of joining forces to create safer, more inclusive communities. Mr. Anderson and Superintendent McIntyre exemplify the leadership, vision, and dedication that this award celebrates.  We are proud to honour their work.”