A Lethbridge police officer accessed former Alberta environment minister Shannon Phillips’s private information from a police database based on information overheard from fellow officers and an informant. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) recommended criminal charges against three Lethbridge Police Service members for unauthorized database use and breach of trust in Phillips’s case, but they were not charged by provincial Crown prosecutors.
While the ASIRT report did not name the officers involved, previous reports identified them as Keon Woronuk, Derek Riddell, and Joel Odorski. Woronuk and Riddell resigned from the force in 2021 due to a separate disciplinary issue, while Odorski remains with the force.
Phillips, who resigned as Lethbridge-West MLA, expressed that the release of the ASIRT report signifies a milestone in her pursuit of accountability for the actions of the Lethbridge police towards her. Her ordeal began over eight years ago when Woronuk secretly took photos of her at a diner and conducted unauthorized searches on her and her guest.
Despite no criminal charges, three officers faced disciplinary actions under the Police Act. Woronuk and Sgt. Jason Carrier were demoted for surveillance at the diner, while Odorski received a reprimand. Phillips expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, highlighting the lack of accountability in the system. ASIRT informed Phillips and Lethbridge police in May 2024 of the investigation findings but took almost 18 months to release the full report.
The ASIRT investigation examined the 2017 diner incident and nine database searches of Phillips in 2018. While most searches were deemed lawful, three instances raised concerns of unauthorized computer use and breach of trust involving Woronuk, Odorski, and Riddell.
Woronuk was found to have contemplated issuing Phillips a traffic ticket and later accessed her dining companion’s license plate information. Odorski conducted a search on Phillips in 2018, and Riddell looked up her name based on information from a confidential informant. Despite the findings, no charges were brought against the officers.
Lethbridge Police declined to comment on the report’s release, and ASIRT did not provide reasons for the delayed report publication. Phillips, a former environment minister known for her conservation efforts, was targeted by the police during her tenure. Woronuk’s actions were influenced by personal and political beliefs, and the incidents involving the officers have raised questions about accountability within the police force.