Make smart choices during Whoop-Up Days, police ask

By Lethbridge Herald on August 19, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Police Service wants to educate the public about some ways to keep the community safe this week during Whoop-Up Days. 

Sgt. Ryan Darroch with the Downtown Police Unit says members of LPS will be at the Whoop-Up Days fair grounds to respond to calls for service or any negative behaviour. 

“One of our big things this year is an education piece, about people bringing weapons to Whoop-Up Days for the rodeo,” says Darroch. 

He explains that historically there has been incidents where people try to go through security with a folding knife or a hunting knife on their belt or pocket that they forget is there and get seized. 

“Especially when it comes to the rodeo, we have people showing up late for the rodeo, leaving their vehicles multiple blocks away, and they end up having to forfeit their knives. So, we are reminding all of our awesome people in the community to leave those at home or in their vehicle,” says Darroch. 

During the Whoop-Up Days parade today, Darroch says LPS will be managing traffic within some of the major artery roads like Scenic Drive, but roadblocks around the parade route are barricades from the City of Lethbridge.

“We will have a presence at the parade to make sure it flows freely, for public safety reasons,” says Darroch. 

He says the goal is for everyone to take part of the celebrations, make good choices, enjoy and let everyone else enjoy safely as well.

“Have fun, leave your negative options at home, like weapons, alcohol, bear spray, or anything like that. And just show up with a good attitude,” says Darroch. 

He says LPS had to deal with some issues in the past and they want to get past them, including people carrying and using bear spray. 

“Bear spray is a popular option these days, especially among the younger kids on the street. It is a regular occurrence for us, and we don’t want to see that type of behaviour unfolding on Whoop-Up grounds,” says Darroch. 

He says it is a family-oriented event and LPS wants to keep that positive energy going and make sure it is safe and enjoyable for everyone. 

“When people use bear spray it ends up hitting a bunch of completely unrelated victims, which don’t deserve that,” says Darroch.