LPS looks to put more boots on the ground
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on October 22, 2022.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com The Lethbridge Police Service is seeking to hire a total of 22 officers including seven for youth engagement over the next three years. It also wants support for officers including in records management, FOIP, Human Resources and Information Technology.“No civilian staff have been created in the Lethbridge Police Service since 2012 and no sworn officers have been added since 2014 other than the Community Police Officers Initiative in 2019. This initiative includes adjusting for the $1 million cut in 2021-2022,” says the LPS in its submission to the City which is contained in the draft budget that was presented to city council acting as the Economic Standing Policy Committee.
“Police call response and officer availability is significantly challenged, impacting service levels to the community. Civilian workload has increased but no new staff have been added in the past two budget cycles which leaves trained officers to do work that could be completed by civilians,” says the LPS in the draft document.
“Police staffing needs will force permanent reassignment of officers resulting in a reduction or elimination of services to the community without this increase. There is increasing new demands on the police because of an increase in population, social issues, investigative demands, court and legislative demands and new provincial requirements. These must be addressed in order to maintain a safe and viable community,” says the LPS.
For 2023, the police want seven full-time youth engagement officers, 15.5 FTE civilian staff and two FTE officers for a total of 24.5 additional staff. In 2024, the police are asking for seven full-time officers and six more in 2025. No additional staff are being requested for 2026.
The budget difference would be an additional $2,235,460 in 2023, $4,084,673 in ’24, $4,952,661 in ’25 and $4,961,464 in ’26.
The initiative includes adjusting for the $1 million budget cut in 2021-22.
In September, LPS chief Shahin Mehdizadeh told the Economic SPC that without additional manpower there will be a significant negative impact on the community.
He said overtime is “through the roof” and that police are facing increasing amounts of burnout and medical leave.
That SPC was told the city should have a staff of about 212 given levels in other comparably-sized Canadian communities. It currently employs 165 people. Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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