ARTICLES

The Medicine Hat Police Service Criminal Investigation Section has laid charges following a complex fraud investigation stemming from an incident reported on June 18, 2025.

A local senior couple was contacted by individuals falsely claiming to be legal counsel of a family member, requesting a large cash payment under the pretense of securing bail.

The suspects instructed the victims to withdraw money from the bank and later arranged for a person to attend their residence to collect the funds. Through investigative efforts, police were able to identify and arrest three individuals involved in the incident.

Search warrants were executed, and evidence was recovered linking the individuals to the offence. Two people have been charged with fraud over $5,000 and theft over $5,000, with one also facing a charge for possession of proceeds of crime. All individuals charged were released with conditions and are scheduled to appear in court on August 20, 2025. One person was released without charges pending further investigation.

The Medicine Hat Police Service reminds the public to be cautious of unsolicited calls requesting money, particularly those involving pressure tactics or secrecy. Anyone receiving suspicious communication is encouraged to verify with trusted family or contact police directly.

Media Contact:
S/Sgt Cory Both
Criminal Investigation Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8421

The Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Annual Report, marking a significant milestone in the Service's history - its 125th anniversary. The report highlights the achievements, challenges, and ongoing efforts of the MHPS in serving the community with pride and professionalism.

“Our 125th year invited reflection on our proud history as a Service and our renewed commitment to the future. The 2024 Annual Report illustrates how our members and community partners work together to enhance public safety and invest in meaningful change to improve service delivery,” said Chief of Police Al Murphy.

Community Safety and Engagement

The MHPS remains committed to community safety, as evidenced by the increase in calls for service, response to significant operational events including an officer involved shooting and two fatal motor vehicle collisions, as well as the proactive measures taken by various units, including the Downtown Patrol Unit who work diligently with stakeholders to address concerns related to social disorder. The Service also hosted the inaugural Alberta Women in Public Safety Conference and continued its efforts community engagement through initiatives like Coffee with a Cop and the Citizens' Police Academy.

Innovation and Excellence in Service Delivery

The MHPS is dedicated to innovation and excellence in service delivery, as demonstrated by the response to increased FOIP requests and the announcement of a new partnership with the Medicine Hat College for a police recruit training program. The Service also recognized the exceptional efforts of its members through various commendations and awards.

Historical Milestones

To celebrate the 125th anniversary, a patch, designed by Mr. Garet Van Riper, commemorated the rich history and diversity of the MHPS. The patch features iconic Medicine Hat landmarks and the MHPS Heraldic Crest, symbolizing the pride and history of the Service.

As the MHPS reflects on its past and looks toward the future, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring a fair, accountable, and community-centered approach to policing. The Service is grateful for the support of the community and is honored to continue serving Medicine Hat with integrity and professionalism.

Click here to view the report.

For more information, please contact:

Rita Sittler
Business Services Manager
Medicine Hat Police Service
Email: rita.sittler@mhps.ca
Phone: 403-529-8416

The Medicine Hat Police Service is once again receiving reports that the “Grandparent Scam” is circulating in the  area.

In the typical scenario, a grandparent receives a phone call from a con artist pretending to be their grandchildren. The caller will sometime say that they are in trouble, usually in a car accident, returning from a foreign country, or even in jail and need bail money immediately.

Unfortunately, victims do not verify the story until after the money has been sent as the caller specifically asks “Can you please help me? I'm in jail (or in the hospital / legal trouble or in some type of financial need). But don't tell Mom/Dad. They will kill me if they find out, please sent the money ASAP. I'm scared".  Wanting to help their grandchild, the victim sends the money as requested. 

Variations on the scam are an old neighbor, a friend of the family etc. but predominantly the emergency scam is usually directed towards seniors and grandparents.

The MHPS is encouraging residents to talk with their older relatives about what to do when they receive a suspicious call:

•             Verify the caller’s identity and the legitimacy of the story. Call the grandchild directly and if they can’t be reached, contact their parents, siblings, or another relative who can help verify the story.

•             If the caller claims to a police officer, lawyer or other official, call the police station or officer directly to confirm the legitimacy of the call.

•             Do not use any phone numbers or other contact details provided by the caller to try to verify the information.

•             Do not provide money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or any other form of payment to someone you do not know.

•             Bail is always paid in person and the police station, courthouse or correctional centre and receipt of payment is provided.  Police and court officials will never attend your home to pick up cash.

•             Never disclose personal information over the phone to someone you do not know.

If you or someone you know has received such a request for money, contact your family or the MHPS who can advise you further.  If you have fallen victim to this scam, and have not already reported it, please contact the MHPS at 403-529-8481.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Adam Gregory
Community Support Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph:403-529-8451

A Medicine Hat man is facing several charges in connection to a series of recent thefts have occurred over the past few weeks in the Southwest Industrial area.

Thousands of dollars of tools have been taken, as well as two motor vehicles stolen from the Tower Estates area. The vehicles have been recovered; however, the tools are still missing.

On June 10, 2025, an unrelated break and enter occurred in the area of Cottonwood Way SW where a photograph of a suspect, led to his identification as Jayden Skinner.

On June 11, 2025, Skinner, aged 26, was located and charged with multiple property related offences, including those in the Southwest Industrial area.

Skinner was held for a Judicial Interim Release Hearing and was remanded in custody. The investigation is ongoing.

Media Contact:

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

On June 10, 2025, following a lengthy investigation, the Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol Section executed a residential search warrant at a home in the 400 block of Sierra Blvd SW. The search resulted in the seizure of:

• Two rifles and ammunition,
• 1.8 kilograms of cocaine,
• $35,766 in Canadian currency,
• Multiple cartons of unstamped cigarettes.

Resulting from this investigation, 50-year-old Jason Carr, from Medicine Hat, has been charged with the following offenses:

• Extortion,
• Unauthorized possession of a firearm (two counts),
• Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized (two counts),
• Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine,
• Possession of proceeds of crime,
• Possession of stolen property.

Carr was detained for a Judicial Interim Release hearing and was remanded into custody pending his next court appearance on June 12, 2025, in Medicine Hat Provincial Court.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Harley Kesler
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8481

On June 2, 2025, at approximately 3:30 AM members of the Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol Section were actively patrolling the area of 10th Avenue SW when they located a cut security fence of storage compound. Upon further investigation inside the compound, they found several recreational vehicles had been forcefully entered. Utilizing a drone and a police K-9 team, they located several items that had been stolen that were stashed a short distance from the compound.

Through continued investigation two suspects were identified and on June 9, 2025, a 46-year-old Medicine Hat male, was arrested and charged with 11 counts of break, enter and theft and Breach of Probation. He was held for a bail hearing and remanded into custody to appear in Medicine Hat Court of Justice on June 11, 2025.

The investigation is still ongoing.

Media Contact:

S/Sgt. Harley Kesler
Patrol Section
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8481

On June 7, 2025, twenty-two local Grade 6 students received scholarships from the Chief Earl Leadership Legacy Fund.  The Fund was established in 2008 to celebrate Chief Earl’s contributions to the community and to honor his memory.

Each year, elementary schools identify students from within the local school districts who have demonstrated the qualities of future leaders based on the four core values of the Medicine Hat Police Service, with an additional focus on leadership and citizenship. Since its inception, and as of today, 275 students have been recognized.

The fund is administered through the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta with sponsorship from the Medicine Hat Safe Community Association and Medicine Hat Police Association. Parents of the scholarship recipients are encouraged to place the awards into an existing or newly opened Registered Educational Savings Plan.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education Recipients: (6)

•             Mother Teresa School: Malin Lecorps

•             St. Michael’s School: Reese Holeha

•             St. Francis Xavier School: Paisley Krasko

•             St. Louis School: Lauren Pancoast

•             Ecole St John Paull II: Tara Tainsh

•             Notre Dame Academy: Alex Angadiyath

Charter/Private School Recipients: (2)

•             Ecole Les Cypres: Euphie Jerome

•             CAPE School: Sarah Bendary

Medicine Hat School District No. 76 Recipients: (14)

•             Crestwood School: Evelyn Scholz

•             Ross Glen School: Kaley Ruckaber

•             Connaught School:  Garnet Jensen

•             Dr Roy Wilson Learning Centre: Elle Osadczuk

•             Webster Niblock School:  Violet Coroy

•             Vincent Massey School:  Harmony Woodworth

•             River Heights School: Jax Armstrong

•             Herald School: Jaxson Gackle

•             George Davison School: Luke Trepanier

•             Elm Street School: Luciana Capriz

•             Dr Ken Sauer: Mason Earle

•             Southview School:  Kristina Correa

•             Medicine Hat Christian School: Navlyn Camphaug

•             Hub: Lissette Tucker

Media Contact:

Sgt Adam Gregory
Community Support Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8451

Please join us at the 64th Annual Medicine Hat Police Association Ball on October 18, 2025.  This event is open to the public to attend.  Tickets are $80 each or a table of eight for $600.  Music will be provided by MacKinney Music, and all proceeds from the event will be donated to the Special Olympics.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact Sgt. Darlene Garrecht 403-952-6898.

On June 5, 2025, at about 3:30 pm, after observing a driver of a vehicle drop an article of drug paraphernalia out of their vehicle, a member of the Medicine Hat Police Service Patrol Section, conducted a traffic stop in the 600 Block of Kingsway Avenue SE.

Upon identifying both the driver and the passenger of the vehicle, it was determined that they both had outstanding warrants for their arrest.  A subsequent search of the vehicle, resulted in the following items being located and seized;

• 37 grams of fentanyl
• 16 grams of methamphetamine
• Drug packaging material used for resale
• Individually packaged quantities of fentanyl believed to be for resale
• A metal extendable baton
• A can of bear spray
• 3 functioning scales
• Multiple drug pipes
• Large quantity of Canadian currency

As a result of the seizure a 36-year-old male and a 36-year-old female, both from Edmonton have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl), possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine), possession of a weapon dangerous, and possession of proceeds of crime.  In addition to this, the male was also charged with failing to comply with a release order.

Both individuals are currently in custody and being held for a Judicial Interim Release Hearing.

Two alleged drug dealers were arrested and over a kilogram of cocaine was seized following an ALERT investigation in Medicine Hat.

ALERT Medicine Hat’s organized crime team made the arrests and seizures on June 3, 2025 with help from Medicine Hat Police Service and Redcliff RCMP. The drugs seized have an estimated street value of $125,000.

Two Medicine Hat homes were searched after a planned traffic stop was conducted near Redcliff, Alta. Just over one kilogram of cocaine was located inside a vehicle and two people are accused of drug trafficking in the city.

“Our enforcement strategy was successful in stopping this large amount of drugs from circulation. This is a sizeable seizure for Medicine Hat and spared our community considerable harm,” said Staff Sergeant Ryan Thorburn, ALERT.

In total, ALERT seized 1,242 grams of cocaine and $9,180 cash.

Two people were charged and both remain in custody:

•             Konnor Smith-Boutlier, 24-year-old from Medicine Hat, is charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime;

•             Melissa Gertner, 46-year-old from Medicine Hat, is charged with possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a prohibited weapon;