Report shows that Lethbridge Police used no force in 99 per cent of calls in 2022

LPS reported that 0.5 per cent of cases where force was used involved 231 subjects. In those cases, police said there were no fatalities, no injuries requiring hospitalization and zero firearms discharged in 2022.

Of the subjects involved, 24 sustained minor injuries that did not require treatment and 17 received out-patient treatments.

According to the 2022 use of force data presented to the Lethbridge Police Commission, 21 per cent of the cases where force was used involved subjects who were perceived as being agitated or intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, 31 per cent were in a state of crisis, 18 per cent had, or were reported to have, access to weapons, and 11 per cent were believed to be suffering from mental illness.

With respect to LPS officers, 14 sustained injuries that did not require hospitalization when force was used, according to the report.

Lethbridge currently has two Police and Crisis Teams (PACT) that pair an officer and a mental health therapist to better serve high-risk individuals and those with chronic issues. Officers receive ongoing training in verbal communication, de-escalation and disengagement techniques, incident assessment and threat identification to enable a resolution that does not involve any use of force or result in injuries.

LPS also conducts scenario-based training in partnership with Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, focusing on emergency response to active threats.

by Sarah Jones

Report shows that Lethbridge Police used no force in 99 per cent of calls in 2022

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