This week, Thunder Bay Police Chief Sylvie Hauth presented to the city’s police services board a six-month progress report in relation to recommendations put forward in our systemic review, Broken Trust: Indigenous People and the Thunder Bay Police Service.
The OIPRD has received a copy of the progress report and will review the initiatives undertaken by Chief Hauth, as well as those that are in progress.
The Director acknowledges the hard work of Chief Hauth and the Thunder Bay Police Service. The progress report demonstrates that the police service and the Thunder Bay Police Services Board have accepted the findings of the systemic review and are working to make the appropriate changes necessary which will ultimately increase public trust and effective policing in Thunder Bay. The police service has taken important steps toward dealing with the concerns raised in the systemic report; specifically, participating in a reconciliation circle and securing an additional million dollars from city council to implement eight priority recommendations. Of particular note is the creation of a multidisciplinary committee to reinvestigate the nine deaths the OIPRD identified in Broken Trust.
It is recognized more work is required. I am confident the Thunder Bay Police Service and Chief Hauth will continue to work hard to implement all of the recommendations in our report.
I look forward to releasing a statement very soon.
Sylvana Capogreco
Interim Independent Police Review Director
