LPS Action Plan sent to Alberta’s Justice Minister

Below are the highlights from the Lethbridge Police Service Action Plan.

ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

The LPS says this is the most critical area it wants to focus on. The initiatives under this pillar are:

Management of Conduct Files
Deliberate Engagement and Partnership with the Lethbridge Police Association
Annual Ethics Training
Review of LPS Social Media Policy
Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement Training (ABLE)

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The LPS says developing future leaders is an important element of the ongoing success of the organization. The listed initiatives will focus on developing skills for current and future leaders, while ensuring the LPS develops the right leadership values in all employees regardless of their rank and/or position.

Recruitment
Field Training Officer
Promotion Process
Harassment Training
Leadership Development
Comp State and Crime Reduction

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS/MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

According to the LPS, “continuing to develop a robust wellness program focused on reducing the stigma of mental illness, increasing awareness of mental health, offering resources to staff to maintain a positive mental health and creating a more supportive environment by strengthening organizational culture will be a priority” under this pillar.

The Working Mind (R2MR)
Brain Story Certification
Cordico Wellness App
Chaplain Support
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

DATABASE ACCESS

The Lethbridge Police Service utilizes an electronic records management system known as NICHE to store police investigative information. The service says because of the sensitive nature of the information included in NICHE, “security is of the utmost importance”. The LPS will be making two changes to NICHE access, citing recent issues around unauthorized database searches.

Mandatory field on NICHE for any search
Warning statement when accessing NICHE
Increased review of policy

COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

The LPS plans to take a two-pronged approach to provide more transparent communications with external and internal partners going forward.

Develop a short-term communication strategy
Develop a long-term communication strategy internally and externally

LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY

In an open letter to residents in Lethbridge, LPS Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh stated that, “We have all seen the negative publicity the Lethbridge Police Service has received as of late. As a result, some citizens may be questioning the ethics and integrity of the men and women who serve you every day.”

“As I reflect back on the circumstances that have brought me to write this letter today, let me say this: I want to make a commitment to every citizen that we are on the right path moving forward. In order to move forward, we need to look at the mistakes made by some of our employees in the past which reflect negatively on the whole department.”

“We will address those concerns through proper process, and ensure those responsible are held accountable with a legal, balanced approach. We are awaiting outcomes of some investigations that will come in due course. I ask for some patience as we navigate through these legal processes, learn from them and make positive changes so we can continue to provide this community with the service you deserve.”

Mehdizadeh remarked that every time a citizen calls 911, meets an officer on the street or with every other encounter they may have with police, he wants people to feel that they will be protected, respected and that the LPS is working “extremely hard” to keep everyone safe.

He said that, “There are many professional, ethical and amazing people in this Service who come to work every day to make a difference – these people are often times your neighbours, your kids’ coaches or your friends. We will strive every day to keep your trust.”

Mehdizadeh added his commitment is that the LPS will make changes to ensure the police service has an “accountable, resilient, healthy and vibrant organization” to serve citizens.

The chief said he holds himself accountable to every employee and every citizen in Lethbridge and he expects every employee at the LPS to do the same.

He added that, “We will learn from our past as we pave a professional and trustworthy path moving forward. I am inspired by the great sense of commitment and unity within the Lethbridge Police Service to make positive changes and better serve this community.”

POLICE COMMISSION CHAIR’S RESPONSE

Lethbridge Police Commission Chair Ron vanSpronsen issued a statement in response to the plan being sent to Justice Minister Kaycee Madu.

He thanked LPS Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh for his cooperation and collaboration and “swift action” in putting the plan together.

vanSpronsen said, “The compilation of this plan was an excellent exercise to undertake and there were many parties who worked together to complete it prior to the deadline.”

“The Minister’s concerns arose in part to incidents that occurred a few years ago. Please be assured that both the Commission and the Service have been bringing in opportunities and strategies that are designed to continuously improve police in Lethbridge.”

“Some of these include collaboration with Lethbridge College, Blood Tribe Police and Medicine Hat Police on cadet training and adding an in-house Legal Counsel to help with discipline processes. The Service has also brought in the Crime Suppression Team, the Watch and the CPO program.”

“Since my time with the Commission, I have been consistently impressed with LPS’ willingness to look in the mirror and make changes in the name of continuous improvement. The LPS of 2021 is not the same as it was in 2018. My support to LPS and Chief Mehdizadeh is unwavering and the action plan presented to the Minister is the culmination of the hard work of many for the past five years.”

MAYOR’S RESPONSE

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman thanked Chief Mehdizadeh for “the honesty and forthrightness” revealed in his open letter to the community and for his commitment to completing the action plan in a timely manner.

Spearman said, “Your willingness to tackle issues that have precluded your time as Chief, as well as the integrity you bring to work each and every day has positioned the police force well for future success.”

“My hope for the not-so-distant future is efficient and timely outcomes to any outstanding investigations so they can be dealt with as necessary, and from there, a chance to move forward with a clean slate.”

“Chief Mehdizadeh holds himself to the highest of standards and is ready to take a big leap forward in making change where change is due.”

RESPONSE FROM LETHBRIDGE POLICE ASSOCIATION

The president of the Lethbridge Police Association, Jay McMillan, issued a response as well.

He said that in the letter, “[Mehdizadeh] illustrates the direction that the Lethbridge Police Service is committed to for ensuring quality public safety service by a respectful, professional, ethical, and accountable team of police officers.”

“The Lethbridge Police Association sees the letter not simply as a response to negative publicity that our organization has faced the past number of months but as a declaration of the continued commitment our Police Service and its members have to the citizens of Lethbridge and an evolving law enforcement profession.”

“This commitment must and does include a clearly identified course for healing, growth, renewal and development. With a robust action plan for organizational and individual improvement we are confident that the Lethbridge Police Service is fully prepared to take necessary and appropriate steps forward.”

McMillan said that the men and women of the Lethbridge Police Association are “fully committed to working together with the Police Service in achieving the type of organization that the city of Lethbridge deserves.”

“We look forward to contributing to the organizational action plan in a collaborative fashion and we see this as a unique opportunity for us to marry some rich and valued traditions with innovative and progressive change.”

Any updates or changes to the Lethbridge Police Service’s Action Plan will be posted to the service’s website under the ‘Moving Forward: LPS Action Plan’ section.

by Justin Goulet

LPS Action Plan sent to Alberta’s Justice Minister

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