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Dozens take part in Lethbridge anti-crime rally Sunday

Several people showed up Sunday (Nov. 3) just outside of Henderson Park to rally against an increase in crime in Lethbridge.

The group is advocating for more police officers in the city, saying people here are fed up with what’s been going on lately.

City Councillor Blaine Hyggen was at the rally as well and says he understands the frustrations. “It’s great to see a group out together with a similar idea and thought pattern. They just want to see safety in our community.”

The group, known as Connecting Our Community, says Lethbridge deserves better.

Organizer Mallory Kristjanson told the crowd they do not tolerate racism or prejudice comments, referring to comments put on the group’s Facebook page some people. She said they support a safe community and want to see more police officers on the streets.

People driving by Henderson Park honked their horns as people held up signs reading things like “City Council We Deserve to be Safe”, “Lobby For Our Safety”, and “Save Our City”.

Hyggen last week put forward an Official Business Resolution at Council asking his fellow Councillors to direct the Lethbridge Police Commission to hire eight new police officers, two per shift to try and curb the increase in crime.

A report is expected to come back to Council no later than Dec. 9th from the Police Commission looking at the cost of doing just that.

Hyggen says out of all the issues he hears about on a daily basis, crime and drugs are by far the biggest.

“If it’s not 95%, it’s higher (referring to emails & calls he receives),” says Hyggen. “These are definitely the main concerns in our community and it’s getting worse as time goes by. Things need to change for sure.”

Patrick Siedlecki
Patrick Siedlecki
Pat has been a mainstay in the CJOC News department from the time the station launched in 2007. He's been in the position of News Director since then and has been anchoring daily news casts as well as reporting and working behind the scenes. Community is important to him and keeping CJOC listeners and readers informed about what's happening across southern Alberta and beyond. Pat has been in radio broadcasting for the past 24 years, starting in Port Alberni on Vancouver Island in 1997 and then moving up island to Nanaimo for another few years before heading to Lethbridge in 2007. Pat grew up in the small Saskatchewan farming town of Foam Lake. After high school, he went to Western Academy Broadcasting College (WABC) in Saskatoon prior to moving to the island. Pat also spent several years broadcasting hockey in the BCHL as well as seven years as the radio voice of the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL. Pat has been working at Cornerstone Funeral Home in Lethbridge as a Certified Life Celebrant and Funeral Assistant since 2016. News and sports have always been Pat's passion from the time he was a teenager and he's always been grateful to have had the opportunity to make that part of what's been a fun and long radio career!
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