(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Two Lethbridge police officers in ‘meme gate’ controversy demoted

Nov 30, 2021 | 4:54 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A pair of police officers in Lethbridge have been sanctioned for professional misconduct.

At a special hearing Tuesday, Constables Matthew Rilkoff and David Easter were temporarily demoted by two grades for one year in regards to the so-called “meme gate” matter.

In 2018, a group of officers had been sharing offensive memes about Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips, the LPS Executive, other officers, and “society in general” that Lethbridge Police Service described as “profane, abusive, and insulting.”

Easter and Rilkoff plead guilty to two counts of discreditable conduct and one count each of insubordination and neglect of duty earlier this month.

READ MORE: Guilty pleas from LPS officers in misconduct hearing

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Three additional officers were charged with misconduct in the matter – two of whom have resigned.

The remaining member had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of discreditable conduct, two counts of neglect of duty, one count of insubordination, and not guilty to one further count of discreditable conduct. His proceedings are ongoing and are scheduled to resume on Jan. 10, 2022.

Once the matter has been concluded in its entirety, LPS says they will be able to comment further and provide more updates on the sanctions.