Police initiate ongoing operation to target crime and disorder downtown

Lethbridge Police seized 350 street doses of fentanyl, arrested 13 people, executed 37 warrants, apprehended an impaired driver and issued nine violation tickets during the first day of an operation that will continue throughout the year targeting crime and social disorder downtown.

The enforcement project, which began March 13, includes members of the Downtown Policing Unit, Crime Suppression Team, Property Crimes Unit, as well as Community Peace Officers. The deployment of these resources will be scheduled throughout 2024 and involve a combination of both uniform and covert officers actively targeting offenders engaged in criminal activity along with other negative behaviours impacting perceptions of safety in the city centre.

Businesses and visitors in the downtown area can expect to see an increased police presence on the days the teams are deployed as officers actively target high frequency offenders and areas with a high volume of crime. 

The Lethbridge Police Service is committed to providing a safe community for all and one of the goals within the 2024 Annual Policing Plan is to increase LPS visibility and capacity in the downtown core. LPS is also a partner in the working group with the Downtown BRZ and City to address safety concerns.

In addition to this targeted enforcement initiative, members of the Downtown Policing Unit, along with Patrol and Community Peace Officers, conduct proactive policing and respond to calls for service daily downtown. Members of the Watch are available to provide safe walks upon request and serve as the eyes and ears of emergency services, creating capacity for officers to spend more time addressing matters that require police attention.

Anyone who observes suspicious activity downtown – or anywhere in the city – is asked to call police at 403-328-4444. Incidents of theft under $5,000, mischief, theft from vehicles and damage to vehicles can be reported online and there also an ‘information only’ category where citizens can report nuisance and non-criminal matters.

Reporting incidents helps ensure police have the most complete picture of crime in our community. Knowing where incidents are occurring assists our analysts in identifying problem areas, hot spot locations and other trends so we can develop and implement effective deployment and enforcement strategies.