Lethbridge police hit with another controversy as ASIRT investigates mishandling of evidence by officer
Posted May 14, 2021 3:18 pm.
Last Updated May 31, 2021 7:46 am.
LETHBRIDGE — The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has been directed to investigate another member of the Lethbridge Police Service.
On May 11, ASIRT was sent in to investigate the circumstances surrounding the mishandling of evidence by an LPS member.
The Director of Law Enforcement was made aware of information during the course of the investigation that raised questions regarding the handling of several items of evidence.
RELATED: Justice Minister threatening to dissolve Lethbridge police department
ASIRT’s investigation will now look at how things were handled during the investigation and figure out if the actions were lawful.
It’s another incident in a series of controversies that have plagued the Lethbridge Police Service and prompted the province’s justice minister to demand immediate changes.
This investigation also comes less than a month after an LPS officer was suspended for an alleged improper database search that took place in February.
RELATED: Lethbridge police officer suspended, ASIRT investigating possible improper search of database
Meanwhile, back in July 2020, Former Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips called for an out-of-province investigation after two veteran Lethbridge police officers were handed a temporary demotion over unauthorized surveillance of her and stakeholders from the Castle Region.
Phillips said she had found evidence of such checks when she searched her file under freedom of information rules.
ASIRT also took over that investigation.
