Police officer receives reprimand for database search on Alberta politician

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — An officer in Lethbridge, Alta., has received a reprimand for improperly accessing information in a police database about former NDP legislature member Shannon Phillips.

Phillips was environment minister when she was surveilled and photographed at a diner in 2017 by officers concerned she was making off-highway changes at a nearby wilderness area.

Her information was accessed on the police database a year later.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team determined there were reasonable grounds to believe two officers committed criminal offences with the database breach, but the Crown decided not to lay charges.

One of the officers involved was demoted in rank and later resigned from the Lethbridge Police Service.

The other officer has been found guilty of discreditable conduct and insubordination.

Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh says the officer’s actions were unauthorized and the reprimand will be on file for three years.

Jay McMillan, president of the Lethbridge Police Association, says it’s a relief the matter is finally over. He called the database offence a minor violation.

“Over the seven years that this entire process took to draw to a fair conclusion, there have been inaccurate accounts, broad accusations, and unfair speculations aimed at the men and women of the Lethbridge Police Service,” McMillan said.

“The insinuations of conspiracy and co-ordinated harassment efforts by LPS are untrue and unfounded. We sat quietly out of respect for the process and in order for the full facts to be established, never thinking it might take seven years for that to happen.”

In 2022, Phillips filed a lawsuit against Lethbridge officers, claiming illegal searches of police databases were an invasion of her privacy intended to cause her psychological and emotional harm.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press