Initiative to target crime and disorder downtown continues to yield results

Lethbridge Police Service has renewed a targeted enforcement project intended to increase visibility and capacity downtown while decreasing crime and disorder. 

The ongoing operation, involving a combination of uniform and covert officers actively targeting offenders engaged in criminal activity and other negative behaviours in the city centre, started again this past March. 

The third project, which took place on May 21, saw members of the Downtown Policing Unit, Crime Suppression Team, Property Crimes Unit, Community Peace Officers, and our partners with the Alberta Sheriffs SCAN team: execute 33 outstanding warrants; lay 20 criminal charges; seize 1109 doses of methamphetamine, 59 doses of fentanyl and 24 doses of cocaine; and promptly recover stolen property from two separate incidences of shoplifting. Police also had the opportunity to engage with numerous citizens, stopping to answer questions, address concerns and simply make people aware of their presence. 

The targeted enforcement operation will continue throughout 2025. Businesses and visitors in the downtown area can expect to see a heightened police presence on the days the teams are deployed as officers work to actively target high frequency offenders and areas with high volumes of crime. 

Police remind the public to continue reporting all suspicious and criminal activity by calling 403-328-4444. LPS uses CompStat, a data-driven model where analytics are used to identify high-crime areas, prolific offenders and the most effective deployment of police resources. Knowing what is occurring, where it is happening and how often, helps give police an accurate picture of crime and disorder in the community, and enables more effective deployment of resources and enforcement strategies. 

Some crimes can also be reported online, including theft under $5,000, mischief, theft from vehicles and damage to vehicles. There is also a category for ‘information only’ reports where citizens can report nuisance and non-criminal matters.