By Lara Fominoff/ Lethbridge News Now

“It’s about being better for our communities” says Lethbridge Police Chief of new policing plan

Nov 2, 2017 | 6:27 PM

 “We have the same number of officers on the street that we had two weeks ago,” says Lethbridge Police Chief Rob Davis.
 
Davis, responding to concerns raised by the Police Association over the possible misrepresentation of a recent consultant report on staffing needs and policing, says he’s a bit surprised by comments from President Jay McMillan,  because he says LPA members had not raised the issue until it was covered by local media.
 
“They sat there as part of the working group, three members of their board of directors were in that working group.”
 
Davis says the independent consultant set the parameters of the working group, and it was only after the group came up with their recommendations and options that the executive acted on them.
 
“So really this was membership driven, so that’s why I’m a little confused and conflicted as to why the LPA is taking the position that they are.
 
“What we are trying to achieve here, is maximizing our resources and being fiscally responsible using what we have to maximize our efforts to keep this city safe.”
 
He maintains that the budget is finite and officers need to live within that reality.
 
“We’re in the middle of a recession, debatably the largest recession we’ve seen in 20 years.
 
“To simply suggest that we can add more cops is ridiculous,” he added. “It’s very short-sighted, it’s irresponsible it would require a significant tax increase, and it’s just not accepted in the current economic climate.”
 
Having six patrol areas in the city didn’t make sense, Davis explained, so moving to four larger areas, which include an expanded downtown area, north, south and west were decided upon.
 
Officers in those areas are now expected to work them for at least two years, and to get to know the citizens and businesses.
 
There will be 18 officers per team, for a total of 72; still well shy of the 87 the LPA says was recommended in the consultant’s report.
 
“This is an ongoing process, as we roll out the recommendations it would be naive, foolish and not smart to throw the switch on all of them at one time.”
 
Davis says he’s also cognizant of the fact that staggered start times to address the needs in any particular area at peak times needs to be negotiated.
 
Media at the news conference with Chief Davis asked for a copy of the consultant’s report, but were told that Davis preferred to wait until he made a presentation to City Council. No date was given for that presentation to occur.