ARTICLES

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) in partnership with the Medicine Hat Police Commission is pleased to present the 2023 MHPS Annual Report.

The report includes a review of operational highlights and features key accomplishments in relation to the strategic priorities of, community safety, community engagement, service delivery, organizational wellness, and human resources. The report also celebrates the success of new initiatives such as the drone deployment program and the re-launch of the crime map in partnership with the City of Medicine Hat. Highlights also include the change of command ceremony for Chief Al Murphy as well as Inspector compliments and Chief’s commendations presented throughout the year.

Training was also a focus with the graduation of 15 cadets on March 17^th.  Upon gradation the cadets returned to their respective agencies at the MHPS, Lethbridge Police Service and Manitoba First Nations Police Service. In November, all MHPS staff attended a professional development day where Mr. Russell Garnett, Program Coordinator with the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC presented on “Defining Moments: Ethical Decision Making in Policing During the Holocaust” which challenged attendees to critically examine the role of individual choices, decisions made by police and the complexities of rationalization in response to orders not to intervene during Kristallnacht and further acts of atrocity and anti-Semitic legislation.

The 2023-2024 Business Plan identified five strategic priorities with a goal of enhancing community safety, strengthening community relationships, and ensuring that all employees and volunteers of the Service are provided with a respectful workplace founded on the MHPS core values. Through this work the benefit of staff training on the topic of cultural awareness was identified as an opportunity to enhance understanding and strengthen the skills of police and public safety professions who work directly and indirectly with different cultures. As such, all MHPS employees, sworn and civilian were required to complete a Cultural Awareness and Humility training module, which introduced the concept of cultural humility, the benefit of valuing diverse perspectives, and highlighted cultural competence as a means of effectively interacting with people across cultures to promote positive partnerships.

To view the entire report, visit the MHPS website.  

For more information contact:

Rita Sittler
Business Services Manager
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

On June 18, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) received a report that an altercation had occurred at a residence located in the 400 block of 19^th Street NE involving a firearm. One of the victims in this matter received a broken hand during the altercation.

Prior to police arrival, the suspects had fled the scene in a vehicle. The vehicle was located a short time later by responding Patrol officers, and a high-risk vehicle stop was conducted on the Maple Avenue bridge, where a male and female were taken into custody.  When searching the vehicle officers located a black CO2 airsoft pistol.

Two people have been charged in relation to this offence:

A 33-old-female has been charged with assault and breach of undertaking. She was released on an Undertaking and scheduled to appear in court on July 24, 2024.

A 34-year-old male, Tim Nymark-Guerette has been charged with:

• Assault with a weapon.
• Assault causing bodily harm.
• Theft under $5,000
• Possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace
• And two counts of breach of undertaking.

Nymark-Guerette was held for a Judicial Interim Release bail hearing and has been remanded in custody with a court appearance schedule for June 20, 2024.

The investigation determined that this was a targeted attack with the accused and victim known to one another and as such there is no ongoing risk to the public.

Media Contact:

Acting S/Sgt. Darlene Garrecht
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

Two people are in custody after officers responded to a weapons complaint.

On June 18, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police (MHPS) received a report that an altercation had occurred at a residence located in the 400 block of 19^th Street NE.  It was reported that some of the people involved in the altercation had left the area in a vehicle.

MHPS Patrol members responded to the area an conducted a high-risk vehicle stop on the Maple Avenue bridge where a male and a female were taken in custody. 

The investigation is ongoing however it appears that this was a targeted event and as such there is no ongoing risk to the public. No further information will be provided at this time.

The Medicine Hat Police Service will be conducting two over dimensional load escorts on June 18, 2024, starting at 9:00 AM and again at 1:00 PM.

The 9:00 AM load will be travelling from Bromley Mechanical in the SW Industrial are to Recliff, AB west town limits. Traffic will be affected on Highway #1 and in the SW Industrial area of Medicine Hat due to counterflowing of the over dimensional load.

The second OD load escort will be moving from Redcliff, AB west town limit to east of Dunmore, AB along Trans Canada Highway #1.

Please avoid these areas if possible and arrange to take alternate routes, Also please be patient and follow all police/bylaw/pilot vehicle directions.Thank you!

On June 11, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol Section responded to a local business for a report of a shoplifting.  Upon arriving at the scene, members located the suspect vehicle and its occupants.  After further investigation a large amount of stolen mail, along with break in tools were located in the vehicle.

As a result of this investigation, two Medicine Hat males were arrested and charged with the following;

Kelly Fisher (41 years of age)

• Possession of a Canada Post Key
• Possession of Identity Information x 6
• Possession of Identity Document x 2
• Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000 x 3
• Possession of Break in Tools
• Possession of Stolen Credit Card Data

Rainey Barker (29 years of age)

• Fail to Comply with Release Order x 2
• Shoplifting Under $5000
• Possession of a Canada Post Key
• Possession of Identity Information x 6
• Possession of Identity Document x 2
• Possession of Stolen Property Under $5000 x 3
• Possession of Break in Tools
• Possession of Stolen Credit Card Data

Both individuals were held for a Judicial Interim Release hearing.   Fisher was released pending his next court appearance schedule for July 3, 2024, while Barker was remanded into custody until his next appearance in Provincial Court on June 13, 2024.

The investigation is ongoing as MHPS investigators are working closely with Canada Post Inspectors and with their assistance the recovered mail and packages will be returned to their intended recipients once they are no longer required for investigational purposes.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) and City of Medicine Hat are warning residents of a fraudulent scam that is circulating in the community.

A local business owner recently reported to the MHPS that they had received a call from an unknown person claiming to be an employee of the City of Medicine Hat. The caller advised that the business owner that the utilities were going to be disconnected due to lack of payment and directed that payment for the “overdue” amount was required via Bitcoin. The victim was also provided a 1-800 number to call which was directed to a false City of Medicine Hat voicemail system with several prompts for various City departments.

Residents are reminded that the City of Medicine Hat does not accept Bitcoin as a form of payment.  If you receive a suspicious, and unprompted phone call regarding your utilities, do not engage with the caller and just hang up.  If you have questions regarding your City of Medicine Hat Utility account, you can contact the department directly at 403-529-8111.

Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam, and has not already reported it to police, is asked to contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

Insp. Brent Secondiak
Operational Services Division
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8416

The Medicine Hat Police Service is seeking public assistance to further the investigation into a recent theft of electrical wire.  During the early morning hours of May 27, 2024, two unknown persons attended to a compound of an electrical company in the southwest quadrant of the city. Once at the location, the suspects damage the compound and stole a large amount of electrical wire. The suspects appear to be operating a white, two door, older model F-150 with a 4x4 logo on the rear side.

The investigation is ongoing and the MHPS is requesting anyone with information that could assist the investigation to call 403-529-8481. Tips can also be submitted, anonymously if preferred, via the MHPS website (mhps.ca) or mobile app. The app is free to download and is available for both Android and Apple devices.

S/Sgt Rod Thompson
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8461

Please be advised that on May 31, 2024, at 9:30 AM the Medicine Hat Police Service Traffic Unit, along with other emergency service providers, will be participating in a mock motor vehicle collision exercise that will be staged on the grounds of the Medicine Hat College.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Alberta Health Services Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth (PARTY) Program and local Grade 9 students will be attending. The PARTY program’s goal is to give students information about trauma to enable them to identify potential injury-producing situations, make prevention-oriented choices and adopt less-risky behaviors. Please avoid the area, if possible, to ensure that emergency vehicles will have easy access to the mock scenario as required.

Thank you!

For more information contact:

Sgt. Stacey Fishley
Traffic Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8471

On May 26, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police (MHPS) responded to a firearms complaint reported at a business located in the 100 block of 1^st Street SE.  An employee at the location had asked a male to the leave the business as he had previously been banned from entering by staff.  The man left but later returned to the store and pointed a handgun, or facsimile at the staff member.

MHPS Patrol members quickly responded and set up containment around the area, which led to the arrest of the male.

As a result, Brandon Webb (32 years old), of Medicine Hat, AB has been charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

• Assault with a weapon
• Threats to cause death or bodily harm
• Mischief causing damage under $5,000
• Disobey a firearms prohibition order
• Use of an imitation firearm
• Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

Webb was held for a bail hearing, and he has been held in custody pending a court appearance scheduled for June 4, 2024, in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.

Media Contact:

A/S/Sgt. Sean McGuigan
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

On May 22, 2024, the Medicine Hat Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Section received information that a male, who was staying in a hotel on Redcliff Drive SW, was in possession of a large quantity of drugs and a firearm.

The investigation resulted in a search warrant being executed on the hotel room where a quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl was seized.  The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $10,442.

Ryan Paskaluk (27 years of age) was charged with the following;

• Failing to comply with a release order x 2
• Possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine)
• Possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl)

Paskaluk was held for a judicial interim release hearing where he was remanded into custody pending his next court appearance on May 28, 2024, in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt. Jason Graham
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421