(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Lethbridge Police Commission rejects inquiry into alleged retaliation threats against MLA Shannon Phillips

Nov 24, 2021 | 1:53 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A public inquiry into alleged threats against one of the city’s MLAs will not be taking place.

On Sept. 27, the Lethbridge Police Commission (LPC) received a request from the Ruttan Bates Law Firm, asking LPC to look into a matter relating to two of their clients.

The office of Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips confirmed to Lethbridge News Now that she is one of the two clients involved but offered no further comments.

Anonymous letters, believed to be from Lethbridge Police Service officers who had threatened retaliation against Phillips, were sent to the elected official.

When Phillips was formerly Alberta’s Environment Minister, members of LPS had unlawfully conducted searches and obtained her private information, and had photographed her during meetings without her knowledge.

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LPS has decided to not order a Section 32 Public Inquiry, into account the nature of the allegations, the anonymous nature of the letters, whether or not the communications demonstrated a workplace that is not safe or respectful, and weighing the potential costs and benefits of doing such an inquiry.

“The LPC determined that the circumstances around the request are problematic and make a proper investigation particularly difficult. Not only do the anonymous communications lack specific information that definitively confirms they originate from LPS employees, the allegations contained in them lack any substantive supporting details.”

“Nevertheless, the request from Ruttan Bates does highlight the important areas for community policing: good governance, safe workplaces, as well as the trust and respect of the community. The LPC continues to take this very seriously and reiterates that both the City of Lethbridge and the LPS have policies and procedures in place that deal with safe and respectful workplace concerns as well as Whistleblower protection.”

“The LPC has instructed Chief Mehdizadeh to ensure all employees of the LPS are made aware of these policies and procedures. The LPC encourages employees who have such concerns to bring them forward with the assurance that their concerns will be investigated confidentially and appropriately.”

No further comments from the police commission will be provided on this matter.

LNN has reached out to the Ruttan Bates Law Firm for additional comments, but has not heard back at the time of publication.