Media Statement

Lethbridge Police Commission

November 22, 2021

Request that Lethbridge Police Commission Convene a Public Inquiry Pursuant to Section 32
of the Alberta Police Act.

On September 27, 2021, the Lethbridge Police Commission (LPC) received a request from
Ruttan Bates Law Firm pursuant to Section 32 of the Police Act. Rutan Bates is legal counsel to
two individuals who are complainants in respect of matters relating to the Lethbridge Police
Service.

The request seeks the LPC convene a public inquiry into certain allegations contained in
communications, which Ruttan Bates assumes is from an employee of the Lethbridge Police
Service and therefore characterizes as whistleblower disclosures.

Section 32 of the Alberta Police Act reads as follows:

32(1) A commission may conduct an inquiry into any matter respecting the police service or the actions of any
police officer or other person employed for the police service.

Having received a legal advice on the matter, the LPC considered the following relevant factors:

• The nature of the allegations set out in the communications

• The anonymous nature of the communications
• Do the Communications demonstrate a workplace that is not safe or respectful as is
required by the law?
• What is the potential cost, compared to the likely benefit, of a Section 32 Inquiry?
The LPC determined that the circumstances around the request are problematic and make a
proper investigation particularly difficult. Not only do the anonymous communications lack
specific information that definitively confirms they originate from LPS employees, the
allegations contained in them lack any substantive supporting details.

After careful consideration of the request, the Lethbridge Police Commission decided not to
order a Section 32 Public Inquiry.

Nevertheless, the request from Ruttan Bates does highlight the important areas for community
policing: good governance, safe workplaces, as well as the trust and respect of the community.
The LPC continues to take this very seriously and reiterates that both the City of Lethbridge and
the LPS have policies and procedures in place that deal with safe and respectful workplace
concerns as well as Whistleblower protection. The LPC has instructed Chief Mehdizadeh to
ensure all employees of the LPS are made aware of these policies and procedures. The LPC
encourages employees who have such concerns to bring them forward with the assurance that
their concerns will be investigated confidentially and appropriately.

Rob vanSpronsen
Chair – Lethbridge Police Commission

Please note: No additional comments on this matter will be provided.