A drug house on Assiniboia Way in Lethbridge that was shut down by SCAN in January 2020. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Province denies City of Lethbridge’s request for dedicated SCAN unit

Jan 13, 2020 | 3:44 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman says it was disappointing to learn that the city will not be getting its own Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit.

SCAN is part of the Alberta Sheriffs and has the authority to shut down known properties where drug-related activities take place.

Currently, the nearest SCAN unit is based out of Calgary, so officials there need to split their time between Calgary and other communities in southern Alberta like Lethbridge.

Back in the fall, Spearman says they submitted paperwork to the Government of Alberta to request that an office open up in the city.

“Under the current budget circumstances, they can’t provide an additional SCAN unit in the City of Lethbridge. That is disappointing because we believe that shutting down drug houses is an important part of the war on drugs.”

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As part of their budgetary package, the city had offered to provide space in municipal buildings to accommodate SCAN.

The mayor claims there are, at any given time, 12-14 active drug houses and 125 properties that are under surveillance.

Over the course of the prior year, SCAN has shut down three drug houses in Lethbridge, including two in just the last month.

READ MORE: SCAN shuts down north Lethbridge drug house
READ MORE: Third Lethbridge drug house in one year shut down by Alberta Sheriffs’ SCAN unit

“I think when you see the reaction when a drug house is closed, people automatically say, ‘Well, they’ve shut the house, they’ll just move down the street.’ Having a SCAN unit monitoring on an ongoing basis would be much more effective than having them here on an occasional basis.”

In a letter to the City of Lethbridge from the province, Justice Minister and Solicitor General Doug Schweitzer said he is open to speaking with the city more on this issue.

Spearman says he plans to take the Minister up on that offer.