A Letter From The Mother of Mathios Arkangelo to Police Association President Curtis Hoople.

Dear Curtis,

My name is Anna Odo. Mathios Arkangelo was my son, and even though he is no longer with us, he is still my son. I have read your letter in response to Mayor Sohi's comments, and it has weighed heavily on my heart. Mayor Sohi's words, spoken after much community concerns from diverse groups of people— professionals, parents, youth, Elders, and Edmontonians-reflected what so many have been asking for, and was far from a quick reaction. It came after the community, in all its diversity, urged him to acknowledge and address the tragedy of my son's death as the mayor of this city.

Curtis, my son's death was not just a matter for public debate. My son was shot multiple times, with his hands up, and his life was taken unjustly. Your words have reduced this tragedy to something small, when in reality, it has shattered my world. Do you know what it is like to be a mother who wakes up every night, hoping that her son will walk through the door and say, "Mom, I am here, this was all just a terrible dream"? But that never happens. My son is gone, and nothing can change that for me or my family.

Curtis, this is not about a division between the police and the community. We are all a part of this city, part of the same society, and we must learn to trust in each other's capacity to protect and serve the safety of our children, especially those from communities that have long been told they don't matter, should be a responsibility we all share. My son mattered. Every child matters.

Since the police chief went on record multiple times calling the brutal murder of my son the "nature of the job" and speaking of "teaching people lessons," all while an active investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is ongoing, I am in disbelief at how quickly you responded when the mayor spoke. I had expected you, as the president of the Edmonton Police Association, to caution chief Dale McFee to not interfere in any way with this investigation, just as you cautioned the mayor. Yet, I watched as statements were made by chief McFee with no sense of restraint or accountability. My expectation from your role was to guide those you represent to refrain from making comments about the killing of my son, and to leave that to those investigating and trust their competency, but that expectation was not met.

If the proper training and support had been in place, both my son and the officer who killed him would be home with their families today. That is the devastating truth I live with every single day. This letter is not about placing blame on individuals; it is about the systems and lack of guidance that failed my son and the officer involved.

Curtis, in your letter, you invited the mayor to meet with you face-to-face for a conversation. But I ask you this: why is it the mayor you are eager to speak with? It is not him who has lost a child.It is me, the mother of Mathios Arkangelo, who will never see my son again, whose life was violently and unspeakably stolen by a member of your police force. That is who you should be speaking to. I am the woman left with the unbearable grief of losing my son, a loss that no mother should ever have to endure.

You claim to represent 2,100 police officers trained to serve and protect. I ask you, did they serve and protect my son? What does this mean for all our children and youth in this city? What kind of message are we sending when the very people meant to keep us safe take our lives?

I also challenge your portrayal of the officers you represent. I do not believe that all 2,100 of them would agree with the actions of the officer who killed my son. They too are human beings with families, and I trust that many of them have the capacity to feel the profound pain that comes with the loss of innocent life. The narrative you present—of "us" versus "them"— is not only harmful but untrue. We are all part of the same community, and we all want the same thing: safety, security, and the right to live free from violence and murder. This is not about choosing sides. It is about justice, and about doing what is right for the future of all our children.

I hope that this letter provides you with a moment of reflection, ask yourself: what kind of world do we want to create? How can we ensure that every child and youth is safe from brutality? How can we hold each other accountable. The true definition of a healthy community is measured by how we protect and treat our most vulnerable members-our women, our children, and our marginalized communities.

Curtis, I hope you recognize how difficult it was for me to write this letter. Losing a child is the most unbearable pain a mother can experience. But to lose my son in such a violent way, and then to watch it unfold on a screen, over and over again, unable to do anything to help my child, is beyond what words can express. No mother should ever have to witness their child's last moments like that, feeling so powerless.

I wrote this letter with the hope that it gives you an opportunity to learn and grow from this tragedy, to reflect on what it means to truly serve and protect. My prayer is that what happened to my son never happens to any other child in this city or this nation.

Sincerely,

Anna Odo