Lethbridge Police Tactical Team celebrates 50th anniversary
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LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Tactical Team on the weekend.
The unit was created in 1974 when Chief Ralph Michelson authorized the creation of a Special Weapons and Tactics Sniper Team to respond to “hostage, armed and dangerous situations.”
Originally, the team had five members: Glen Michelson, Frank Bathgate, Len Kolpak, Bill Plomp and Norm Whelpley. Now, the Tactical Team is part of the LPS Critical Incident Unit, which includes the Explosive Disposal Unit, Crisis Negotiators, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Unit, Scribes and Incident Commanders.
The current team has 17 members, including the team’s commander Sgt. Denton Michelson, the great nephew of Glen Michelson, who was the original team’s commander.
