After 40 years of police service, Lacombe's Chief of Police Lorne Blumhagen has announced his retirement.
"Chief Blumhagen has been a dedicated leader for the Lacombe Police Service, making significant contributions to public safety and building community trust," the Lacombe Police Commission stated in a news release. "While we bid farewell to his exceptional leadership, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Dobirstein as the new Chief of Police, effective June 1, 2025."
Blumhagen joined the Lacombe Police Service in 2014, first serving as Inspector before becoming Chief of Police.
"His dedication, outstanding service, and leadership have had a lasting impact on the community, and we thank him for his years of commitment to public safety," said the Commission.
Blumhagen was awarded the Governor General's Exemplary Service Medal in 2012 and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal for initiatives in crime reduction and enforcement strategies. He was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 2012 with the First Bar awarded in 2022.
He started his policing career with the RCMP in Camrose as a Summer Constable in 1985, from there he served with the Camrose Police Service where he was promoted to Sergeant in 2005 managing a Policing Team, and then he became the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of the Major Crimes Unit.
Dobirstein, who grew up in Lacombe, is an accomplished law enforcement executive with over 30 years of experience in policing, strategic leadership, and community safety management.
He joins the Lacombe Police Service from the Lethbridge Police Service, where he currently serves as Inspector in the Criminal Investigations Division. Prior to this role, Dobirstein held leadership positions as Inspector of the Field Operations Division and Inspector of the Support Services Division.
"The Lacombe Police Commission is excited to have hired such a highly skilled and dedicated police officer to lead the Lacombe Police Service. We are confident that Jason Dobirstein’s leadership will continue to enhance public safety, foster community trust, and uphold the values of respect, accountability, honesty, and integrity that define our policing service."
Dobirstein was awarded the Police Exemplary Service Medal in 2010 with the First Bar awarded in 2022.
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