A unidentified Medicine Hat police constable appears on his mount in this undated file photo. The Medicine Hat Police Service will mark its 125th anniversary with a regimental parade tonight at the Cypress Centre. -- News File Photo
The Medicine Hat Police Service will mark its 125th anniversary tonight with a regimental parade at the Cypress Centre pavilion that is open to the general public.
“We’d be happy to see the community come out and join us and just celebrate this organization,” police chief Alan Murphy told the News.
The service’s historians generally consider Jan. 13, 1899 as the beginning of a municipal police force, as on that day council of the time passed Bylaw No. 8, allowing for the hiring of a constable.
“The community should be proud that they’ve had their own municipal police service for the last 125 years. Not all communities have that and I think we should be proud of it,” says Murphy.
The North-West Mounted Police had five members stationed in the city at the time, according to the MHPS official history.
“I’m very proud to be here and to be part of that history now. A lot of people got us here to where we are today and I think it’s important to recognize that with the celebration.”
Tonight’s event will begin at 7 p.m at the Cypress Centre pavilion on Stampede grounds. A levee will follow.
