Medicine Hat Police “Cop Cards” Curious Business of Encouraging Police Contact
COLLECT COP CARDS
At: https://www.mhps.ca/posts/post/62658 (The MHPS sitemap is odd, looks like IT Dept. is collaborating with a 12 year old template, Or actual 12-year-old coders.
In celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Medicine Hat Police Service, the department has released a new series of “Cop Cards,” a community engagement initiative that last appeared in 2010.
According to the Medicine Hat Police Service website, thirty police and peace officers are participating. Each card contains a short biography of the officer and a photograph selected by that officer. Both printed and virtual versions are being distributed. The program seems to be aimed at children and youth, as well as what the service describes as “the young at heart.”
The stated purpose of the cards is to increase the approachability of police officers and encourage interaction with members of the public. If a young person under the age of 18 collects all thirty cards, they become eligible to win a reward from the Office of the Chief of Police. The nature of that reward has not been disclosed.
Chief Al Murphy stated at a police commission meeting last year that the intention of the program is for young people to “collect them all,” language that mirrors the marketing of popular collectible card franchises such as Pokémon. Police have indicated that cop cards can be requested during encounters with officers.
Signed Secondiak
8/10. Sleeved. Great corners. First Edition. Now retired. Signed with black sharpie in 2024. What’s it worth?
What has not been explained is why a police service would want children or teenagers to have more than thirty separate contacts with police officers. There does not appear to be any public communication addressing the rationale behind encouraging such a high volume of police interactions for minors, or how that objective aligns with youth safety, policing outcomes, or community trust.
At present, two Medicine Hat Police Service officers are facing serious criminal charges, and a third officer was recently sentenced under the Police Act. None of those officers appear to be included in the current cop card collection.
The cards themselves present a curated version of policing, featuring biographies and images selected by participating officers. They function as promotional materials at a time when the service is also dealing with internal accountability issues that are not reflected in the program.
I currently have a Bohrn Brothers card, a Chief Al Murphy card, and a signed Brent Secondiak card. These materials are being treated as collectible local artifacts, distributed through police interactions rather than through a neutral public venue.
If you have any of these cop cards, you are encouraged to post photos in the comments, front and back. Extra credit goes to anyone who uses a hole punch in a comedic way (if you know, you know *GLORY HOLE LAWSUIT FROM EX-POLICE CHIEF”)
