Lethbridge, Alberta, police are launching a body-worn camera program on June 15, with nine frontline officers testing the equipment over four weeks before a full rollout to all uniformed officers by the end of 2026. The Lethbridge Police Service says the cameras will record interactions with the public during calls, traffic stops, arrests, mental health apprehensions, and other situations where evidence may be gathered.
Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh said the program reinforces the department’s commitment to accountability and safer interactions. “We know trust is built through transparency,” he said. “Body-worn cameras give the public greater confidence in how we serve the community.”
The province mandated body-worn cameras for all Alberta police services in March 2023, making it the first Canadian province to require them. Lethbridge partnered with Axon Public Safety Canada to buy 165 cameras and a digital evidence management system. Annual operating costs are estimated at up to $950,000, covering cameras, software, and four civilian positions to manage video evidence, redactions, and privacy compliance.
City council approved funding from the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve: up to $555,000 in 2025 and up to $914,000 in 2026, reduced by an expected $205,471 grant from the provincial government. Mayor Blaine Hyggen called the program a financial necessity under the provincial mandate.
Officers will tell people they are recording when safe and practical, but notification is not required. Cameras will not be used inside the police station’s short-term holding area or front desk, where surveillance cameras are already in place. Recorded data is kept for at least two years.
