Calls for Change After Police Shooting of Indigenous Man

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

Joshua Frogg says he isn’t shocked by the outcome of the investigation into his nephew’s death, but he wants changes to make sure former police officers aren’t involved in these kinds of cases.

Eric Nothing, 40, was shot and killed by a Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) officer on July 22 in Deer Lake First Nation, a remote Oji-Cree community about 580 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, Ont.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) claims that Nothing approached the officer holding two knives and that his shirt was on fire.

The officer fired five shots at Nothing. The SIU found no wrongdoing on the part of the officer.

“I’m a hunter, right? So when I shoot an animal, I don’t keep on shooting it when it goes down,” Frogg said. “When it was revealed to us that all five shots hit their target, it just sounds like he kept on shooting after Eric went down.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that looks into police conduct leading to death, serious injury, sexual assault or the use of a firearm against someone.

Joshua Frogg, centre, is seen with his brother Roy, left, and Bruce Wallace Frogg, right. Bruce Wallace Frogg was shot and killed by a Kenora OPP officer in June 2024. (Joshua Frogg/Facebook)

In clearing the officer last week, SIU director Joseph Martino stated that he “was satisfied that the officer shot the man to protect himself from a reasonably apprehended knife attack.”

A year earlier, Nothing’s father, Bruce Wallace Frogg, was also shot and killed by an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer in Kenora. The SIU concluded there were no grounds for criminal charges related to his death.

“The last two [SIU] reports haven’t made any sense to us,” Joshua Frogg said. 

I don’t expect anything different, right? Police policing themselves. That’s just not normal, not acceptable.- Joshua Frogg, uncle of Eric Nothing and Tyresse Kenny Padro Cree Roundsky who both died in police shootings

Joshua’s other nephew, 23-year-old Tyresse Kenny Padro Cree Roundsky was fatally shot by a police officer in a makeshift courtroom in Wapekeka First Nation on July 31. The SIU is still investigating his death.

“I really feel for [Roundsky’s immediate] family because I think it’s going to be the same result,” Joshua said about this investigation.

“I don’t expect anything different, right? Police policing themselves – that’s just not normal, not acceptable.”

Tyresse Kenny Padro Cree Roundsky, 23 died in Wapekeka First Nation on July 31. Ontario’s SIU is investigating. (Submitted by Jez Winter)

The SIU has faced criticism over how many investigators have backgrounds in policing. reached out to the SIU about this matter and received an emailed statement on Wednesday.

“The SIU has a complement of 16 lead investigators; seven have never worked as police officers in Ontario,” it states. “If a former police officer is assigned to a case involving another service they once worked for; they cannot take part.”

“Additionally,” it adds “the SIU director can never have been a police officer.”

Cultural support and building relationships

When members of the SIU reviewed their report with Nothing’s family; Joshua noted they were taken into a room at Kenora Courthouse where they could hear court proceedings happening next door. It lasted between 15 and 20 minutes according to him.

“I wish there had been more privacy and comfort while discussing such upsetting findings regarding my nephew,” he mentioned;

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates police conduct resulting in death serious injury sexual assault or discharge firearms against people.()

“It’s been very difficult very hard coming to terms with everything,” Joshua added; “We haven’t accepted it yet because the pain remains; it’s just always there.”

A little over two years ago; The SIU released data showing race-based statistics relating to investigations from October first twenty-twenty through September thirtieth twenty-twenty-one;

This data showed Indigenous individuals were nearly six-point-two-five times more frequently represented than non-Indigenous individuals within investigations conducted by them;

“It would’ve helped if elders or cultural practitioners supported our family during this process,” Joshua expressed;

The agency stated whenever possible “a member from our First Nations Inuit Métis Liaison Program leads or participates in investigations involving Indigenous peoples ensuring respect sensitivity.”

The investigators also receive ongoing training around cultural sensitivity throughout their evaluations,” it added;

This program started back In Two thousand six emphasizing “building relationships between themselvesand Indigenous communities.” It includes senior advisors from Curve Lake First Nation as well as lead investigators regional ones forensic identification specialists;” according to what they’ve shared.

Additionally; Affected Persons Program exists which coordinates needed cultural supports during after investigations’ processes.”

I still don’t think I’ll ever trust them unless they cut ties with former law enforcement officials handling these matters” Joshua stated emphatically;
“There should be an independent unit without ex-police taking charge.”

Mental health counseling crisis support available around-the-clock every day through Hope for Wellness hotline number one-eight-five-five-two-four-two-three-three-one-zero or online chat at www. hopeforwellness. ca.

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