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| Lethbridge Police Service | |
|---|---|
 Patch | |
 Logo | |
| Motto | Providing Safe Communities |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1902; 124 years ago (1902) |
| Volunteers | 50 as of 2017 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | Canada |
| Legal jurisdiction | Municipal |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Lethbridge,Alberta |
| Sworn members | 172 as of 2017 |
| Unsworn members | 61 as of 2017 |
| Elected officer responsible |
|
| Agency executive |
|
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 1 |
| Website | |
| www | |
TheLethbridge Police Service, formerly known as theLethbridge Regional Police Service, was established 1902, and serves the city ofLethbridge, a community in southern Alberta of approximately 101,482 in its2019 municipal census.
The Lethbridge Police Force was established in 1902 with a staff of two constables and served a population of about 2,000. Thomas "the Just" Lewis was appointed the chief of police. In 2009, the police service employed 155 officers, 47 civilian staff and over 40 civilian volunteers, and served a population of 92,435. Two officers have been killed in the line of duty, Acting Sergeant Paul Smith in 1913 and Constable Cal Byam in 1964.[citation needed]
On May 4, 2020, a video of a 19-year-old woman dressed in aStar Wars stormtrooper uniform being taken down and arrested by Lethbridge police gained international attention.[1][2] The woman was carrying a toyStar Wars blaster onStar Wars Day in front of aStar Wars themed restaurant.[3] The Lethbridge Police Service and theAlberta Serious Incident Response Team initiated an investigation into the incident. The investigation concluded in December 2020, and resulted in no criminal charges against the involved officers.[1] A further external investigation cleared the officers of any wrongdoing.[3]
In July 2020, two members of the Lethbridge Police Service were demoted for inappropriately using their police jobs in 2017 to follow and photographAlberta NDP MLAShannon Phillips, then theMinister of Environment and Parks of Alberta. Phillips was in the process of meeting with stakeholders in the lead-up to the formation ofCastle Provincial Park, where the two officers had an interest in off-road vehicle driving. One of the officers took photos of the meeting and ran a police check on the stakeholder; the photo was later published on Facebook under a pseudonym alongside criticism of the NDP government. After an investigation by theMedicine Hat Police Service, charges were laid against the two officers, who admitted to the misconduct charges.[4]
The service is governed by a nine-person commission composed of three members of theLethbridge City Council and six citizens. The commission oversees the service, allocates funds from the council and establishes policing policies. They provide instruction to the police chief regarding sufficient staffing levels.
The head of the service is Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh, who has over 35 years of policing experience, primarily with theRCMP. The executive officers heading the service's four divisions are Inspector Tom Ascroft, Inspector Colin Catonio, Inspector Jeff Cove, and Inspector Bill Kaye.
The rank structure consists of the following:
| RANKS | Chief of police | Deputy chief | Inspector | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Senior constable | Constable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia |
As of 2005, newly hired officers must complete the Police Recruit Training Program through the Centre for Advancement in Community Justice, located at theLethbridge Polytechnic.
The organization of the police service includes four divisions: community policing, criminal investigation, administrative support and support services.
The community policing division is mandated to maintain the peace, protect life and property, and the prevention and detection of crime. It is composed of the following units:
The criminal investigation division provides support services to ongoing investigations through the dissemination of intelligence and investigation assistance. Units in the division include:
The administrative support division oversees the following areas:
The support services division provides support to all other divisions as required, including a specialized response to ongoing crises and ensuring the continuous flow of information. This division includes:
Officers were equipped withSIG Sauer P226 pistols in .40 S&W. In 2019, Lethbridge Police Service purchasedGlock 17 Gen 5's in 9mm to replace the P226.