By LNN Staff

2017 Incident

ASIRT investigation determines charges will not be laid in breach of trust investigation involving LPS officers

Nov 7, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) says it will not lay charges against Lethbridge Police officers accused in a breach of trust investigation.

Matthew Block, acting executive director for ASIRT, says in a report released Nov. 6, 2025, that although it was the opinion of the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the criminal offences of unauthorized use of computer and breach of trust were committed by the three officers involved, ASIRT acted in accordance with the opinion provided by the ACPS, that charges not be laid.

According to the report, ASIRT received the requested opinion from ACPS on Dec. 8, 2023.

The report says it’s important to note that ASIRT and ACPS are bound by different standards when assessing the viability of charges arising out of an investigation.

ASIRT, as the investigative body, says it applies a Criminal Code standard that determines whether reasonable grounds exist to believe that an offence has been committed.

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Meanwhile, the ACPS, based on its internal policy regarding criminal prosecutions, applies a standard which examines whether there is a reasonable likelihood of conviction arising out of the evidence, and whether it is in the public interest to proceed with a prosecution.

The report says access or using a computer system outside of its intended purpose can constitute a criminal unauthorized use of a computer system.

Block writes that searching NICHE or CPIC to access information about a civilian in circumstances where the officer(s) had no lawful reason to do so can meet this test. He further points out, a police officer using their position, which affords them access to police databases, for personal purposes can also be a criminal breach of trust.

On Feb. 3, 2021, the Director of Law Enforcement (DLE) directed ASIRT to investigate the unauthorized access of affected person #1’s (AP1) private information on police databases by several Lethbridge Police Service officers. ASIRT designated five subject officers and provided them with notice.

On March 8, 2021, the Director of Law Enforcement directed ASIRT to investigate the misuse of a police database to search for private information relating to affected person #2 (AP2) by an LPS officer. ASIRT designated an additional subject officer and provided him with notice.

Beginning in 2017, the report indicates a full review into the actions of LPS officers had been completed by the Professional Standards Branches of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) prior to the second matter’s referral to ASIRT.

Block’s report says ASIRT reviewed those earlier professional standards investigations and made some preliminary recommendations. As a result, the DLE determined that a second criminal investigation should be initiated.

On April 14, 2017, AP1, AP2, CW3( Civilian Witness 3), and two others enjoyed a breakfast together at a restaurant in Lethbridge.

A group of LPS officers, which included SO6 (Subject Officer 6), WO4 (Witness Officer 4), WO5, and WO6, were also at the restaurant and were seated behind AP1.

Later that day, a social media post was made that featured surreptitiously taken photographs of AP1, AP2, and CW3 from the restaurant and made negative comments about the discussions they were purportedly overheard having.

The initial post was made under an alias account name but was subsequently re-shared by SO6.

AP1 submitted a complaint to the then-LPS Chief, and he directed an investigation be conducted by the Professional Standards unit of CPS and then subsequently the MHPS.

The results of these two investigations led to a Police Service Regulation hearing where two LPS members were disciplined and a subsequent successful appeal by AP1 and AP2.

ASIRT says it’s investigations are now complete.

Related: ASIRT investigating unauthorized use of police databases regarding Shannon Phillips