Thunder Bay police will be re-investigating nine Indigenous deaths, as guided by 44 recommendations examining racism in the police force.
Chief Sylvie Hauth notes the work will include partnerships between the legal and Indigenous agencies, and within the force itself.
“Our sudden death review committee, for example, has been in existence for 2 years, where we do review sudden death. So, there’s other things that have been in place prior to the recommendations that already inform, and have changed how we do business.”
The police chief hopes to have the re-investigations finished by June of next year.
She adds they’re working very closely with the chief coroner’s office.
That work includes tracking progress against key milestones and make public investigative findings when appropriate.
“But also having a resource unit, which comprises of various different resources, anywhere from a coroner, to a toxicologist, to a defense lawyer, to get a really different perspective.”
And, there is work waiting in Thunder Bay for graduates of the Ontario Police College.
Hauth tells us there are eight people currently learning the ropes, with expectation they’ll be working in the fall.
“Which will mean by the fall, we’ll be able to augment our criminal investigations branch, and look at the creation of our major crime unit with those additional resources added to that branch.”
The creation of the major crime unit was part of the 44 recommendations looking into racism at the Thunder Bay police force.
