Lethbridge Police Service's new Community Peace Officer vehicle. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

New truck shown off for Lethbridge’s Community Peace Officers

Oct 8, 2019 | 3:17 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Police Service unveiled their brand new truck that will be used by its brand new crop of law enforcement personnel.

Sgt. Mike Williamson says, in addition to the Dodge Ram truck shown in this story, there will also be a Subaru SUV on its way.

“Our truck is fully kitted out in terms of prisoner transport, whereas the Subaru Forester will not have a cage in it and it will be more of an administrative vehicle and still to do traffic enforcement and any provincial statutes and respond to calls with it as well.”

Nine CPOs were sworn in back in July and have continued their training ever since.

They are allowed by the Solicitor General to enforce crimes such as theft and mischief under $5,000, can execute search warrants and conduct traffic enforcement, while also having authority around substances and gaming-related offenses. Although they are not armed with guns, they will carry pepper spray and batons in the field.

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For now, the CPOs have been working alongside police officers in the city to gain hands-on experience, either patrolling by foot or by being in a police vehicle with their training officers.

By mid-November, Williamson says they will be ready to go out on their own and will be able to drive the Community Peace Officer vehicle.

“I will be actually putting out a schedule for our CPOs so we’re not fighting like little kids to get the vehicle.”

When it comes to traffic enforcement, CPOs have the same authorities as police officers, so if you get pulled over by one, you will be asked for your license and registration just like you would with a cop.

Sgt. Williamson was a key player in getting the CPOs to where they are now.

He will instead be taking over the Downtown Policing Unit later this week, but he says he still wants to work hand-in-hand with the Community Peace Officers and The Watch to keep the downtown core safe.

For more information on Williamson’s new position, use this link.