Lethbridge Police Commission Delays Decision on Public Inquiry Requested by MLA Attorney Shannon Phillips – Lethbridge | The Canadian News

It will take another month for the Lethbridge Police Commission to decide whether or not to commit to a public investigation, requested after the whistleblower letters retaliated against Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips and others.

The request for a public inquiry was made by Calgary defense attorney Michael Bates, representing Phillips and another Lethbridge resident, after complaint letters received in June allegedly suggested possible retaliatory action against the MLA and a member of the media.

That request was made to the police commission at its September 29 meeting, and on Wednesday commission chair Rob Van Spronsen said more time is needed to make a decision.

“We have not said that we are not going to go ahead with one. What we said is that we need more time to decide whether or not to do it, ”Van Spronsen told Global News after the meeting.

“There are many different factors that go into the decision to conduct an investigation, so we want to take some time.

“We just received some advice from our legal counsel on October 22, so we just need more time to process and resolve it. We didn’t want to make a quick and hasty decision. “

Phillips responded to Wednesday night’s non-decision on Twitter after the meeting: “We have waited patiently and quietly for a full month. We are asked to wait once more. We are examining our legal options. “

Phillips was subjected to unauthorized policing by Lethbridge Police Service officers in 2017 when she was the NDP’s environment minister.

The MLA added that it will not provide further comment on the matter until it has consulted further with Bates.

Van Spronsen was asked if he thinks the processes are being followed correctly and if LPS is being held accountable.

“I honestly do. We meet with the boss, we talk about it, we investigate it. Policies are in place, and where there are violations, there are processes in place, ”said the president.

“When we talk about responsibility, we all have different definitions of what responsibility is. Again, this is why we believe that the process is extremely important. If there is a process and the steps are there, and if we follow the steps to their conclusion, we follow the process, there is responsibility. We are responsible for making sure we follow the process. “

Van Spronsen says the LPC hopes to have a decision before or before its next meeting, which is scheduled for Nov. 24.