Edmonton Police Admit to Owning Stingray Surveillance Device

Original source: https://www.vice.com/en/article/edmonton-police-admit-to-owning-stingray-surveillance-device/

Local snapshot (archived 2026-07-03): full-page PDF committed at sources/news/_archive/vice-eps-stingray-admission/vice-eps-stingray-admission.pdf.

CONFIRMED (with EPS walk-back caveat). Aug 11, 2016.

• EPS spokesperson Anna Batchelor: EPS has "used the device in the past during investigations," but would release no additional details to "protect [Edmonton Police Service] operations."
• First time a local (municipal) Canadian police department publicly acknowledged owning a Stingray device.
• EPS later said it did not mean to create a "miscommunication" — a partial walk-back, but the on-record admission of past use stands.
• Range: multi-kilometre radius. Indiscriminately connects to any cellphone in range.
• Cost: NOT disclosed by EPS. Article notes such devices generally cost "tens of thousands of dollars to over one hundred thousand dollars" (defensible estimate: ~$100K–$500K per unit incl. Harris licensing; treat as ESTIMATE — no EPS receipt).
• BCCLA's Michael Vonn: "We have to assume, having made this investment, that they've used it more than once."