The Watch Members -- LNN

By Connor Gunn

“The Watch” manager speaks out on petition to defund the program – Video

Jun 8, 2020 | 5:20 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB- Lethbridge’s Watch program has been receiving some negative attention lately from some members of the public.

The program is designed to provide the streets of Lethbridge with a volunteer-based downtown patrol program.

Almost 2,400 Lethbridge residents have signed the petition, and the number keeps growing, to defund the program entirely.

The group will try to present a strong case to the city.

The concern from some Lethbridgians is that a volunteer-based program is costing $600,000 per year for two years.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Watch Manager Jeff Cove says the project is quite valuable to the city and helps the public reach an officer even faster in the event of an emergency.

“It would be a lot more if we were paying the 25 volunteers,”

Cove said regarding the expense of the project.

“The team leads are not getting paid an awful lot of money, my salary is in there too, but I’m not here for the money.”

Cove wanted to add the project is a much-needed program for Lethbridge and that the community can benefit from this.

Another point brought up on the petition is that The Watch is a “white supremacists” group. However, Lethbridge police went on to say “The Watch is staffed primarily by volunteers ranging in age from mid-20s to early 60s – from all walks of life and various ethnicities. ”

A statement from police noted The Watch pointed have contacted DOT on 650 occasions to facilitate rides for the homeless population and ensure they get where they need to go.

On one recent occasion Watch volunteers pushed a woman in a wheelchair to the shelter from Galt Gardens.

Watch personnel have also reached into their own pockets to provide bottles of water, refreshments, and gift cards from McDonald’s so individuals in need can get a hot meal. This is not a funded part of the program, but it is something Watch members enjoy doing from time to time to help out when they can.

A recent survey conducted by the Citizen Society Research Lab at Lethbridge College – the full results are slated for release later this month – indicated 88 percent of respondents support The Watch program. Only slightly more than one in 10 believe the program was a poor idea.

Program updates are presented quarterly to City Council and currently, The Watch is funded until the end of 2020.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.