On February 27, 2026, cadets from the Lethbridge Police Service took part in a specialized shooting exercise in Lethbridge, Alberta, to learn how to handle firearms in the dark. The training was held at the Police Range in Peenaquim Park to help new recruits prepare for real-world situations where they might have to work in low-light conditions.
The session ran from 12:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. so that cadets could experience operating in total darkness. By practicing in these conditions, the service aims to improve officer skills and ensure safer responses during incidents where visibility is limited.
Officials issued a notice to the community before the exercise began because the sound of gunfire could be heard by nearby residents in North Lethbridge. The goal of the warning was to prevent unnecessary 9-1-1 calls and keep neighbours from becoming alarmed by the noise coming from the river valley.
The training range is located in the north river valley at a site shared with the Lethbridge Fish and Game Association. Because the range is situated in the river bottom, the sound of practice shots can often carry into residential areas like the Stafford neighbourhood.
This training is a key part of the 22 to 23 week cadet program, which is managed in partnership with Lethbridge Polytechnic. The exercise took place following the recent news that Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh will continue leading the local police service until August 2029.
