Utoo Radio and Other News Sources - April 22, 2024 - On April 22, 2024, a group of distraught families and Indigenous leaders requested the disbandment of the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) due to ongoing concerns over the handling of death investigations.
The group called for a complete reform of the TBPS after multiple instances of corruption resulting in decades-long cold cases rendered the existing agency unfixable. The families, including First Nations Chiefs, leadership from Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Anishinabek Nation, and families from Thunder Bay left without credible investigations into the deaths of their loved ones.
Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler criticized TBPS for becoming a "cold case factory" with over 20 unsolved cases, highlighting the erosion of trust within the community. The families have asked the Inspector General of Policing of Ontario to reassign the death investigations of Jenna Ostberg, Corey Belesky, and Mackenzie Moonias to a different police service and to dissolve the TBPS altogether.
Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum highlighted the province's inaction since initial calls for the disbandment of TBPS in 2022 and backed the families' calls for accountability. The Inspector General, empowered by the Community Safety and Policing Act of 2019, is urged to intervene due to the specific failures in policing related to the death investigations of Indigenous Peoples.
TBPS Chief Darcy Fleury acknowledged the scrutiny facing the police service and expressed his commitment to truth and reconciliation efforts. He acknowledged the families who were present today and extended his deepest condolences to the loved ones and communities of those tragically lost. The Thunder Bay Police Service Board also responded, expressing condolences and affirming their dedication to transparency and strengthening policies to better serve Indigenous communities.
The call for disbandment represents a significant moment for Thunder Bay, reflecting deep-seated issues within its policing and an urgent cry for reform. As these tensions unfold, the community watches closely, hoping for decisive action and meaningful change.
