‘Both humbled and grateful’: Lethbridge police chief not guilty of misconduct

Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh has been found not guilty of misconduct

An allegation of misconduct made against Lethbridge’s top cop has been dismissed.

Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh was found not guilty at a hearing on Monday.

According to the Lethbridge Police Service, a former deputy chief alleged Mehdizadeh “violated a public health order relating to cohorts during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking a civilian member out for lunch and denying culpability when he was confronted.”

The civilian member was the police service’s chaplain.

Mehdizadeh took him out for lunch.

An agreed statement of facts noted both were masked where required and properly socially distanced.

It is also noted Mehdizadeh stated he believed the chaplain to be within his allowed cohort and apologized when it came to light he was not.

At the hearing, presiding officer Brett Carlson provided reasoning for the not guilty verdict.

“There was no evidence of malicious intent or meaningful moral culpability,” he said.

“A moment of carelessness or error in judgment does not, by itself, constitute discreditable conduct requiring discipline.”

Mehdizadeh said in a statement Monday he is “both humbled and grateful.”

He also said the allegation is part of a pattern of behaviour by his former deputy chief.

“Since leaving LPS in 2022, after a short period of time working together, the former deputy chief has made numerous allegations and complaints against me,” he said.

“None have been substantiated, and several have been dismissed outright as frivolous and vexatious.”