Lethbridge police chief suspends 5 officers in meme investigation connected to MLA spying incident

Five police officers inLethbridge, Alta., including one who was already disciplined for spying on a local cabinet ministerhave been suspended with pay as part of an investigation into the circulation of inappropriate images,according to an email obtained by CBC News.

The investigation has beendubbed internally as "MemeGate," according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Several memeswere circulated among Lethbridge Police Service officers whichweredisrespectful to LPS brass and NDPMLA Shannon Phillips, who wasthe minister of environment and parks at the time,according to those sources, who spoke to CBC News on condition of anonymity.

The investigationbegan in 2018. Last week, Lethbridge police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh sent an all-staff email announcing the suspensions.

"As of today, five employees have been relieved of their duties," wrote Mehdizadeh.

"This file will be damaging to LPS, however, we need to ensure transparency in the process for public interest and also the integrity of the organization."

Thisis the latest revelation involving Phillips and the Lethbridge police.

One of the suspended officers is Const. Keon Woronuk, whois also one of two officers recentlydisciplined for a 2018 spying incidentinvolving Phillips.

Last week, CBC News reported thatfive otherofficers including a deputy chief and a staff sergeantand a civilian employee accessed Phillips' personal information on police databaseswhen she was environment minister with no apparent investigative justification, according to internal documents.

'Meme militia'

Edmonton police are handling the investigation, which involvedallegations of discreditable conduct, insubordination and neglect of duty, according to sources with knowledge of the case.

CBC News has not viewed any of the memes but some have been described by those who have.

They are purportedly a series of photos distributed by a group deemed the"meme militia."

Severalinvolved the faces of then-Chief Rob Davis and Deputy Chief Scott Woods placed onto various images including some from the Toy Story movies. Davis was depicted as Buzz Lightyear while Woods was Woody.

The images involved criticisms of the leaders and havebeen described by police employeesas humiliating,offensive and toxic.

According to sources, some of the memes were posted and circulatedon work-issued phones and while officers wereon duty.

'Rough times' ahead

Sgt. Jason Moulton is also suspended as part of the meme investigation. In 2019, Moulton filed several previous complaints against Deputy Chief Scott Woods, the most recent of which was dismissed last June.

A third officer identified as being suspended in connection with the meme investigation is Const. David Easter, who has twice been charged with assault.

Easter was found not guilty of his 2014 charge.

Last year, he was suspended without pay from August 2020 to December2020 when his most recent assault charge was dropped.

According to a news release, LPS said they would not be discussing the names of those being investigated or any evidence before it was introduced at the hearing "to protect the integrity of the hearing process."

In his email, the chief advisedemployees that the service would be going through "some rough times."

Mehdizadeh said he wouldensure the five suspended officers "have the support they need as they navigate through the process."

The chief said he would be taking a "balanced approach to move on with this file" and that the "severity" of the file would be considered.

Phillips spying incident

The Lethbridge Police Servicehasseen its share of controversy recently.

Two officers Woronukand Sgt. Jason Carrier were recentlydisciplined for spying involvingPhillips.

Woronukand Carrier photographed Phillips as she met two people at aLethbridge diner. Thephotos were posted online with a caption reading"everyone's favourite hypocrite."

After the meal, Woronuk ran a search on the licence plate ofPhillips' guestsand attempted tofollow them before he lost the vehicle at a red light.

WoronukandCarrier areoff-road enthusiasts who opposed the then NDP government'splan forphasing out off-highway vehicle use on designated trails in Castle Provincial Park.

Both officers were disciplined and demoted for their misconduct.

Phillips is appealing after the Law Enforcement Review Board called the disciplinary process "tainted, flawed and grossly inadequate."

Mehdizadehcalled the allegations against the force's employees who accessed Phillips' personal information on police databases"very serious" and said he wascommitted to fully co-operating with Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT)investigators, who are looking into it.

Justice minister's callfor action

The force also came under recent scrutiny when CBCNews reported that a retired LPS inspector, who was head of a victims advocacy group, had a sexual relationship with a clienta domestic violence survivor who said their relationship was not consensual.

When the woman went to the police service to complain, the man's friends and former colleagues were initially assigned to investigate him with the woman saying they were dismissive and that she worried about potential conflict of interest.

Coaldale RCMPis now in charge of that investigation.

With all the recentcontroversy,Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madugot involved last week.

Madu met with the chief and chair of the police commission on Tuesday. Following that meeting, Madusaid he expected immediate action to be taken in light of officer misconduct allegations andwasconsidering government intervention if the follow-through by the Lethbridge Police Service wasn't satisfactory.