Former deputy chief alleges Lethbridge police chief broke COVID rules in 2021

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LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - Lethbridge's police oversight board is looking into a complaint that the city's police chief broke public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/03/2025 (364 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Lethbridge’s police oversight board is looking into a complaint that the city’s police chief broke public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A former Lethbridge deputy chief alleges that Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh engaged in discreditable conduct by taking a chaplain out for lunch in March 2021.

After receiving advice from a provincial review board, the Lethbridge Police Commission has scheduled a hearing next month to look into three allegations.

Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh speaks during a news conference in Lethbridge, Alta., on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Rossiter
Lethbridge Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh speaks during a news conference in Lethbridge, Alta., on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Rossiter

It’s alleged that Mehdizadeh violated public health orders, denied he’d done anything wrong and held other officers accountable for breaking pandemic rules after supposedly breaking them himself.

A previous investigation by Edmonton police found 10 of 16 allegations were made too late or didn’t have standing.

Lethbridge police say the remaining allegations were found to be “frivolous and vexatious.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2025.

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