Police Chief Davis discusses street checks in Lethbridge following allegations

“From there we launched an administrative review to look at our policies compared to other police services across the province, and across the country. Out of that, we came back with a few enhancements that we’re going to make to our policies,” Davis said.

The big thing that was apparent, according to Davis, was the need for a quality assurance piece.

“So now we’ll be doing a quality assurance piece where will be sampling the street checks that come in to ensure they are fitting our policy consistently,” he continued. “Also providing an annual report, we already provide an annual report on things like use of force and pursuits, so it only makes sense to provide these statistics as well.”

Davis also believes it’s important to beef up the training around street checks.

“Typically, we do bias-free policing already as it’s built into the training, but we need to be more robust in enhancing training so our officers are constantly aware of the rights of the individual during these types of interactions,” Davis stated.

Hlady’s statement also references a disappointment that the LPS hasn’t addressed the legality of street checks, something Davis shot down immediately.

“There’s nothing in this country that says they’re illegal. Street checks are part of police procedure, and this went through a very rigorous debate in Ontario but they’re still legal there albeit with more control.”

The Alberta Solicitor General continues to work on consultation while developing guidelines for all police services in the province, and Davis says when those come down they’ll follow them but until that time he’s happy with the efforts they’ve made and the work they’re doing.

A street check could best be described as the stopping, questioning and documenting an individual in a public place, but Davis says a person isn’t obligated to give police their information during a street check if there isn’t just cause.

“That’s part of our ongoing training to make sure our officers understand that if there’s not a legal authority to detain them, and it’s just a street check, if the person says no then that’s the end of the conversation,” Davis said, adding they train to that standard anyway but not it’s a matter of reinforcing it.

One part of the statement provided by Hlady reads: “We believe that carding erodes confidence in the administration of justice and that it disproportionately has an impact on Black and Indigenous people as well as our youth.”

A request for street check data under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act showed that in 2015 and 2016, the total number of street checks completed by officers in Lethbridge was 2,264.

Of the 2,264, 1081 were white, 106 were black and 349 were Aboriginal.

When asked about Hlady’s comments on whether the street checks issue is connected to racial profiling, Davis wasn’t having any of it.

“I’m not even going to entertain that. She won’t share her analysis with us, so for me to comment on that I don’t think is warranted. I think it’s a bit of a stretch, and until we know her analysis I’m not prepared to answer that,” Davis said.

Neither Davis nor Strategic Communications Manager Kristen Harding could confirm whether they’ve ever formally requested Hlady’s documents but Davis doesn’t believe that would bring about a solution to this issue either.

“My position on it is I will follow the direction of the Solicitor General of Alberta. I believe Ms. Hlady wants to replicate what’s happened in Ontario and if the Alberta government decides to go that way so be it, but to get into these one-on-one conversations with individuals on such a topic that really needs provincial direction wouldn’t be appropriate.”

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Police Chief Davis discusses street checks in Lethbridge following allegations

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