TORONTO –
First Nation leaders have renewed calls to dissolve the Thunder Bay police because the pressure’s former chief faces felony charges in a widening misconduct probe.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a number of chiefs of northern Ontario First Nations and three households with family members who died within the metropolis stated Monday that Thunder Bay police can now not conduct credible investigations.
Lawyer Julian Faulkner speaks concerning the pile-up of indigenous individuals’s deaths chilly instances throughout a information convention at Queen’s Park calling for the disbandment of the Thunder Bay Police Providers. April 22, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Cole Burston)
They stated they want the Ontario Provincial Police to take over for Thunder Bay police.
“Our persons are dying, my daughter’s gone, we’ll not have her again,” Vincent Ostberg stated of his daughter, Jenna, each from Bearskin Lake First Nation in northwestern Ontario.
She died on Dec. 30, 2023 in Thunder Bay on the age of 21. The Particular Investigations Unit, the province’s police watchdog, stated there have been three 911 requires service from a Thunder Bay house. By the point police arrived after that third name, officers discovered Jenna Ostberg lifeless.
Vincent Ostberg and two different households visited Queen’s Park in Toronto on Monday to ship a message to politicians.
“We will not get our kids again, however the province, Doug Ford, has the facility to present us justice,” Ostberg stated.
“If we won’t have our family members, we would like justice.”
A number of stories since 2018 have documented systemic racism within the Thunder Bay police pressure and outlined how investigations into the sudden deaths of Indigenous individuals have been tainted by racist attitudes and stereotyping.
13 of these investigations have been so poorly dealt with they needed to be reinvestigated.
The households have filed complaints with the province’s Inspectorate of Policing, a brand new company tasked with inspecting police forces for compliance with the Neighborhood Security and Policing Act.
All three households have requested the province’s inspector common to reassign the loss of life investigations into Jenna Ostberg, Corey Beleskey and Mackenzie Moonias to a distinct police service from Thunder Bay police.
Donna Belesky speaks about her brother Corey Belesky, a 31-year-old discovered lifeless in Thunder Bay in 2022, throughout a Queen’s Park information convention calling for the disbandment of the Thunder Bay Police Providers. April 22, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Cole Burston)
“The Thunder Bay Police Serivce has was a cold-case manufacturing facility,” stated Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northwestern Ontario.
“On the subject of investigations into the deaths of Indigenous peoples, there’s a full lack of belief, every little thing has damaged down.”
The Ontario Provincial Police introduced felony charges this month towards the previous Thunder Bay police chief and one other high-ranking member.
Ex-chief Sylvie Hauth and former in-house lawyer Holly Walbourne each face charges of obstruction of justice and breach of belief for allegedly making false statements to the police board and the Ontario Civilian Police Fee.
The fee investigated allegations of misconduct in 2022 and charged Hauth beneath the Police Service Act for allegedly overseeing an improper felony investigation into the previous police board chair after which allegedly attempting to cowl up her involvement, however Hauth resigned simply earlier than she was set to go earlier than a police oversight tribunal.
In December, as a part of their misconduct investigation, OPP additionally charged officer Michael Dimini with two counts of assault, and one rely every of breach of belief and obstruction of justice for alleged offences happening in 2014, 2016 and 2020.
Present Thunder Bay police Chief Darcy Fleury vowed final week to rebuild the group’s belief within the pressure.
On Monday, Fleury prolonged condolences to the households and others who’re feeling the ache and trauma of loss. He stated the pressure will proceed with its “renewal” and work with households, Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Indigenous leaders.
“We’re merely not the identical service,” Fleury wrote in an announcement.
“Change and belief take time. Progress has been made, and extra will come.”
The Thunder Bay Police Service Board stated Monday it “understands the method of constructing belief with Indigenous communities requires transparency, acknowledgment, and accountability.”
The board stated it “believes having robust native choice making with respect to public security is essential to the way forward for policing in our area.”
The New Democrats requested the solicitor common within the legislature what the province supposed to do with Thunder Bay police.
“There is a new chief and there is a new police service board in Thunder Bay with good intentions to maintain their group secure,” Solicitor Basic Michael Kerzner stated.
“We now have to present the brand new police service board and command management a chance to work with all group stakeholders in order that members of the group really feel served and guarded.”
The households on the legislature on Monday stated Thunder Bay police had not taken their family members’ instances severely.
Dorothy Sakanee holds a photograph of her granddaughter Mackenzie Moonias, a 14-year-old discovered lifeless in Thunder Bay in December 2023, throughout a Queen’s Park information convention calling for the disbandment of the Thunder Bay Police Providers. April 22, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Cole Burston)
Mackenzie Moonias, 14, died whereas in Thunder Bay for highschool. She, like a number of hundred different college students from distant First Nations, left house so as to get a high-school training.
Moonias was final seen on Dec. 13, 2023, and her physique was discovered 5 days later close to the marina. The household and Neskantaga’s management have questioned the police’s dealing with of the lacking individual’s case.
Vanessa Sakanee wipes her eyes as she speaks about her daughter Mackenzie Moonias, a 14-year-old discovered lifeless in Thunder Bay in December 2023 at Queen’s Park. April 22, 2024 (The Canadian Press/Cole Burston)
“When Mackenzie’s grandmother reported her lacking, she was not taken severely,” stated Chris Moonias, chief of Neskantaga First Nation.
“I typically lay awake within the evening questioning if the three days would have made a distinction.”
4 months later, detectives assigned to research Mackenzie Moonias’s loss of life haven’t spoken to the household, he stated.
“I additionally marvel, if she had been white, would the police have responded instantly?” the chief stated.
Glen Belesky holds a photograph of his son Corey Belesky, a 31-year-old discovered lifeless in Thunder Bay in 2022, throughout a information convention calling for the disbandment of the Thunder Bay Police Providers at Queens Park in Toronto. April 22, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Cole Burston)
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 22, 2024.
