Kenney owes police an apology for comments

­For immediate release

September 18, 2018 

LETHBRIDGE - The NDP is calling for an apology after UCP Leader Jason Kenney told the Lethbridge Herald law enforcement is “shrugging their shoulders” regarding the city’s response to the opioid crisis.

Kenney said, “Law enforcement should not be shrugging its shoulders. They should be overturning the tables to track down the dealers who brought that into the local market. So I don’t accept a shrug of the shoulders.[1]”

“Not only has Kenney voted against rural crime funding, now he’s insulting our law enforcement officers,” said Shannon Phillips, MLA for Lethbridge West. “They work tirelessly day in and day out, and the allegation that law enforcement is “shrugging its shoulders” is insulting. Mr. Kenney should apologize.”

Kenney failed to acknowledge that ALERT Lethbridge, cooperating with Lethbridge frontline officers, seized more than $1 million worth of drugs and proceeds of crime, the largest in the city’s history.[2] In fact, Lethbridge Police have responded to hundreds of drug complaints and cases of possession, working to reduce trafficking, production and cultivation of illicit substances.

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[1] https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2018/09/15/ucp-would-focus-attack-on-dealers-in-opioid-battle/

[2] https://globalnews.ca/news/3249326/alert-records-lethbridges-largest-drug-seizure-worth-1-million/