The Lethbridge Police Service has sanctioned one of its officers with a reprimand following an internal investigation into a database access case involving former Alberta cabinet minister Shannon Phillips. The officer was found guilty of discreditable conduct and insubordination, and the reprimand will remain on their record for three years. The investigation was sparked by a police officer overhearing a conversation at a coffee shop involving Phillips, which led to the officer posting images on social media criticizing Phillips and her government. Phillips filed a complaint, leading to the officer being convicted of violating the Police Act in connection with the case.
Additionally, another Lethbridge police officer was convicted of being an accessory to the first officer’s offenses and failing to report them. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) investigated the matter and determined that while criminal charges were not warranted, there were reasonable grounds to believe that the officers had accessed Phillips’ data inappropriately. The Lethbridge Police Service conducted its own internal investigation following ASIRT’s probe and found that the officer had accessed Phillips’ information to determine if there was any misconduct by police personnel related to the social media posts. The officer’s actions were deemed a minor contravention of police service regulations, resulting in a reprimand.
Despite the conclusion of the investigation, there is no process for appealing the chief’s decision regarding the officer. The complaints by Phillips against the LPS are considered concluded, with the exception of a civil suit that remains before the court. Phillips, who announced her departure from politics in June citing the coarsening of public discourse, declined to comment on the latest developments. The Lethbridge Police Association issued a statement supporting the chief’s decision to sanction the officer, highlighting the need for a full investigation before accusations of illegal activity are made public.
The LPS emphasized that the officer’s actions were not in compliance with policy or legitimate instructions from a superior officer. The investigation took into account the officer’s statement, which was not provided to ASIRT during their probe. The decision to reprimand the officer was based on evidence gathered by the Professional Standards Unit, which was not considered by ASIRT. While the LPS does not have an appeals process for the chief’s decision, they acknowledged that the matter involving Phillips is now closed. The Lethbridge Police Association expressed concerns about the public reporting of alleged illegal activity by officers prior to full investigations, and stated that three officers have been held accountable for misconduct related to specific incidents several years ago.
In conclusion, the Lethbridge Police Service has taken action against an officer involved in the database access case with former cabinet minister Shannon Phillips. The officer received a reprimand for discreditable conduct and insubordination, with the sanction to remain on their record for three years. The ASIRT investigation did not result in criminal charges, but the internal investigation by the LPS led to the officer’s sanction. The LPS noted that the officer’s actions were not justified by their reasons for accessing Phillips’ data and emphasized the importance of following policy and legitimate instructions. The Lethbridge Police Association supported the chief’s decision and raised concerns about the public reporting of allegations before full investigations are completed.
