(Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

2024 year-in-review: Shahin Mehdizadeh

Jan 3, 2025 | 10:05 AM

Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says the Lethbridge Police Service continued its strong presence and operations in 2024.

Medhizadeh says the organization saw success when focusing on the three pillars of their strategic plan.

“It’s been a very good year for us, both from tackling different projects, objectives to reducing crime, connection with our community and also internally what we’ve done to recruit so many people and improve the health of the organization.”

Mehdizadeh added,

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Although the numbers have not been released for 2024, Medhizadeh says that the number of crimes in Lethbridge and the Crime Severity Index (CSI) saw a significant reduction in 2023. He says that comes from their more focused approach on tackling crime through CompStat, and the use of technology and analytics to focus resources where they need to be targeted.

Mehdizadeh also touched on the success LPS had with recruitment, and how members of the service stepped up when they were shorthanded at times throughout the last year.

LPS also ran a number of community initiatives in 2024, including the Slow Your Roll campaign to urge drivers to drive slow in school zones where kids cross the street, along with the Lets Beat Cold campaign, which brings winter clothes to families in need.

Mehdizadeh spoke on the importance of police having a visible presence and connecting with every type of person in the city.

“Community engagement and building trust with the community is the most critical piece of our work, either through enforcement or engaging with them. The right population and right groups provide a very equitable level of service to every citizen in this city, regardless of their background color of skin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, whatever unique things that make every individual different. We want to provide a service to every citizen and let them know that we are here to absolutely serve them, because we are ready as public service for service of the public.”

Heading into 2025, as Medizadeh says the LPS looks to expand its outreach, teams and programs they have, he stressed that the public service work they do will remain their core objective.

Mehdizadeh finished his interview with Lethbridge News Now by sending a message out to the community.

“Citizens have a direct impact on the motivation and the output of our officers and our employees in general. And they’ve been amazing. So I just want to thank everyone, every citizen in Lethbridge and we look forward to serving them in 2025 and beyond. “

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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