The Edmonton Police Service moved decisively this week to protect the political neutrality of its property, announcing that a volunteer plan to distribute referendum lawn signs from a police parking lot would not be permitted, on the grounds that police facilities must remain untouched by anything resembling a political position.

"Political campaigning of any kind is not allowed on police property," said Deputy Chief Nicole Chapdelaine, drawing a firm and principled line between the police, an institution funded by a municipal budget, governed by a provincially-legislated act, and overseen by elected officials, and the messy world of politics, which she described as "out there, somewhere, not here."

The signs in question related to a referendum, a process in which members of the public are invited to hold an opinion and then express it, an activity police confirmed is welcome literally anywhere else. "You can pick up a sign at a Tim Hortons, a church basement, a guy's garage," the spokesperson explained. "All we ask is that the building dedicated to enforcing the outcomes of public policy not appear to have feelings about public policy."

Pressed on whether a parking lot pickup constitutes campaigning, officials clarified that the concern was the appearance of partisanship, a standard the Service applies consistently, except for the recruitment billboards, the community barbecues, the budget requests to council, the press conferences supporting specific legislation, and the cars.

"There is a meaningful difference," Chapdelaine added, "between us taking positions and a volunteer handing a retiree a piece of corrugated plastic in our parking lot. I can't articulate it, but I can enforce it."

At press time, the Service confirmed the lot would instead be reserved for its intended non-political uses, including the impound, the fleet, and three unmarked vehicles no one would discuss.