No Confidence in TBPS as Unsolved Indigenous Deaths Continue to Mount
-
Posted by Shelby Percival
- Posted in BlogsNews
In an article by Tanya Talaga released by the Globe and Mail on April 18, 2024 titled “First Nations peoples have lost confidence in Thunder Bay’s police force”, the continued failings of the Thunder Bay Police Service (“TBPS”) were once again highlighted, citing the resulting profound distrust and lack of confidence that Indigenous peoples in Thunder Bay have with an agency tasked to ensure the safety of the public.
Talaga’s article states that “Thunder Bay has become ground zero for human rights violations against Indigenous peoples in Canada”. She references previous reports done by former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Murray Sinclair (“Thunder Bay Police Services Board Investigation – Final Report”) and the “Broken Trust” report by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director which stated that the TBPS was guilty of systemic racism in 2018.
The article comes a week after the arrest and criminal charges against former TBPS Association lawyer Holly Walbourne and former Chief of Police Sylvie Hauth. These charges are indicative of the long-standing problems of the TBPS, says Talaga.
Quoted in the article is Falconers LLP partner Julian Falconer, who maintains that this is the “new normal” for Thunder Bay and that “nowhere in this country has a city or municipality been permitted to completely bungle death investigations on a systemic level…”.
Talaga’s article closes with the question of whether the full disbandment of the TBPS is finally warranted, given the lack of trust in the police and their continued failings.
Falconers LLP represents Indigenous families such as the family of Jenna Ostberg and family of Stacy DeBungee and are honoured and proud to stand and support Indigenous peoples and various Indigenous organizations as they continue to advocate for their rights and pursue justice in all aspects of their lives.
Related Reports:
Senator Murray Sinclair “Thunder Bay Police Services Board Investigation – Final Report” – November 2018
Report of the Office of the Independent Police Review Director “Broken Trust” – December 2018
Media Coverage:
Tanya Talaga, The Globe and Mail (April 19, 2024) – “First Nations peoples have lost confidence in Thunder Bay’s police force”
Related Posts:
https://falconers.ca/crave-documentary-scrutinizes-thunder-bay-and-the-racism-rooted-in-the-thunder-bay-police-service/ – Feb 24, 2023
https://falconers.ca/failures-of-the-thunder-bay-police-service-on-display-in-radio-canada-article/ – May 6, 2022
Related Posts on Stacy DeBungee Case:
https://falconers.ca/public-proceeding-of-the-thunder-bay-police-services-board-will-determine-whether-officers-involved-in-the-investigation-into-the-death-of-stacy-debungee-will-face-disciplinary-proceedings/ (February 5, 2021)
https://falconers.ca/adjudicator-reserves-decision-on-whether-thunder-bay-police-officers-will-get-a-pass-and-avoid-disciplinary-proceedings/ (February 11, 2021)
https://falconers.ca/adjudicator-rules-that-thunder-bay-officers-to-face-discipline-in-debungee-hearing/ (February 17, 2021)
Related Posts on the OIPRD Complaints and Findings (Individual Conduct and Systemic):
https://falconers.ca/casestudy/stacy-debungee/ (June 20, 2016)
https://falconers.ca/oiprd-outlines-broad-terms-reference-review-thunder-bay-police-service/ (November 3, 2016)
https://falconers.ca/cbcs-national-features-oiprds-damning-report-thunder-bay-polices-investigation-death-stacy-debungee/ (March 4, 2018)
https://falconers.ca/first-nations-leaders-call-thunder-bay-police-chiefs-resignation-wake-scathing-oiprd-report/ (March 5, 2018)
https://falconers.ca/oiprd-releases-its-report-on-systemic-racism-in-the-thunder-bay-police-service/ (December 12, 2018)
