Skip to content

BREAKING NEWS: Lacombe Police Chief Murray announces retirement

Steve Murray was put on administrative leave last month
75031lacombeexpressMurray
Police Chief Steve Murray

BY ERIN FAWCETT

Lacombe Express

he Lacombe Police Commission announced today Police Chief Steve Murray’s retirement as chief of police with Lacombe Police Service (LPS), effective Oct. 7th.

“On behalf of the commission, we thank Chief Murray for his service to the community and look forward to working with LPS and moving the service forward in meeting the goals and objectives of the commission and serving the community overall,” said Jonathan Jacobson, chair of the Lacombe Police Commission.

Murray was put on administrative leave last month and earlier today, officials remained tight-lipped as to the reason.

“From a police service perspective all I can say is that it is basically between him (Murray) and the police commission,” said Lacombe Acting Chief Insp. Lorne Blumhagen. “The service itself is not involved in any of those conversations. We are operating as normal in Chief Murray’s absence and we will continue to operate as status quo.”

During their last meeting on Sept. 26th, City council moved to an in camera portion of the meeting to discuss a personnel matter (Lacombe Police Service) before moving back into a public meeting.

In a press release this afternoon Murray stated, “I am extremely proud of the accomplishments LPS has achieved over the past four years with the tremendous support of both the Lacombe Police Commission and City council, and some significant organizational change projects will come to fruition in the near future. With those changes in place, and with an experienced and energetic team at LPS, it is time for me to depart and focus on addressing personal health issues. I feel both honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to work alongside so many great people and to serve this wonderful community.”

Murray has lived in Lacombe for the past 18 years and has served with LPS since 1999. He was named sergeant in 2011 and became chief in 2013.

efawcett@lacombeexpress.com