Thunder Bay Police Service held a information convention Monday afternoon to debate the misconduct investigation that led to felony charges being laid in opposition to town’s former police chief.
CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca streamed the information convention reside at 1 p.m.
The present police chief Darcy Fleury spoke together with Karen Machado, the chair of the police service board, about rebuilding the general public’s belief.
“The allegations of the previous will not be a mirrored image of the work being achieved at this time,” Machado mentioned.
“Our board won’t hesitate to behave on any allegations of misconduct.”
The pair additionally spoke about invoking change shifting foward and supporting the psychological well being of police service members.
Outburst throughout information convention
Chantelle Bryson, the lawyer who represents the group of officers and civilian workers who got here ahead with human rights complaints in regards to the power, attended the information convention.
She took challenge with a response made by the police board chair.
“The previous board did carry complaints ahead to the OCPC (Ontario Civilian Police Fee),” Machado mentioned.
“No they did not, that is not true,” Bryson mentioned interrupting from the viewers.
“I am sorry, I am leaving. That’ not true.”
Lawyer Chantelle Bryson (proper) speaks out in opposition to Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Darcy Fleury and Chair of the Police Companies Board Karen Machado throughout a press convention in Thunder Bay, Ont. April 15, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Jackson)
“You must apologize to those service members,” Bryson mentioned standing on the entrance of the room on the information convention.
“Up to now, the board and the chief of police are supporting persevering with defending the complainants in HRTO. They’re indemnifying them, they’ve continued, since their presence, to file pleadings within the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario correspondence, correspondence to my workplace, calling these individuals liars, calling me a liar.”
Lawyer Chantelle Bryson (proper) speaks out in opposition to Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Darcy Fleury and Chair of the Police Companies Board Karen Machado throughout a press convention in Thunder Bay, Ont. April 15, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Jackson)
In response, the board issued this assertion:
“Ms. Bryson’s feedback are factually inaccurate. The board forwarded issues raised by former board member Georjann Morriseau to OCPC within the spring of 2021, asking them to analyze. Substantive data was shared with OCPC to help them, resulting in their subsequent investigation.”
Probe into misconduct
In late 2021, the Ministry of the Lawyer Common requested Ontario Provincial Police to analyze allegations of misconduct involving members of the Thunder Bay Police Service.
On account of that investigation, three individuals from Thunder Bay Police Service have been charged since December.
Sgt. Mike Dimini was arrested Dec. 6 and charged with two counts of assault and one rely every of breach of belief by a police officer and obstructing justice.
Final week, two extra individuals, a former lawyer and a former police chief, have been each charged with obstruction, obstructing justice and breach of belief.
Holly Walbourne, 37, resigned as Thunder Bay Police Service counsel final yr across the time Fleury took the place.
Sylvie Hauth turned police chief in 2018 following a scathing report that discovered ‘systemic racism’ inside the Thunder Bay police power that affected the loss of life investigations involving Indigenous Peoples.
In June 2022, Hauth was suspended after “critical allegations” have been made by the Ontario Civilian Police Fee.
She resigned in January 2023 after 30 years of service avoiding a police misconduct listening to.
Not one of the felony charges have been confirmed in courtroom.
