A disciplinary hearing is set for next month with the Lethbridge Police Commission to address an appeal of allegations going back to the pandemic that were previously dismissed against Lethbridge’s Chief of Police.
According to a statement from Lethbridge Police Service officials, the hearing will address complaints about Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh taking a civilian to lunch during the pandemic, violating the public health order and denying culpability when allegedly confronted. He also is alleged to have discredited LPS by not following the health orders himself but publicly held LPS employees accountable in the media.
According to the statement from LPS, in 2022 the former Deputy Chief sent a letter of complaint to the Minister of Justice about the conduct of the chief.
“The matter was referred to the Lethbridge Police Commission and the Edmonton Police Service was directed to investigate,” the statement reads. “The EPS investigation identified 16 allegations and determined 10 were either time-barred under the Police Act or the complainant did not have standing to make a complaint. The Commission dismissed the remaining six allegations as frivolous and vexatious and lacking an evidentiary basis.”
Officials say the decision was appealed the decision the Law Enforcement Review Board in 2023. Last year the board directed the Lethbridge Police Commission to hold a hearing on the three allegations, upheld the decision to dismiss three of the allegations as as frivolous and vexatious, and “determined it did not have jurisdiction to consider the 10 allegations that were time-barred or without standing under the Police Act.”
The public hearing is scheduled for April 17th at 9:30 a.m. at City Hall in the Culver City Room. According to LPS and the police commission, no more information will be shared on the matter.
