Forging on with outside help for the Thunder Bay Police Services Board (TBPSB).
The Board approved in principle Wednesday to activate a panel of experts that could review a number of areas including the multiple human rights complaints, mental health-related concerns and past recommendations from other police oversight boards.
The six individuals that have agreed to serve include:
Alok Mukherjee (former chair, Toronto Police Services Board)
Kimberly Murray (former executive director, Truth and Reconciliation Commission)
Dilnaz Garda of Beyond the Blue (an advocate of mental health for police)
Laura Kloosterman (retired police officer now with Badge of Life Canada)
Sandy Smallwood (former vice-chair, Ottawa Police Services Board)
Paul Cook (former president, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police)
Further discussions will be held on the functions and actions of the panel.
Police Chief Sylvie Hauth released this statement in response to the calls to reinvestigate the deaths of indigenous individuals:
“The multi disciplinary team was able to employ the advancements in investigative technologies and methodologies which have occurred over the last 22 years as they examined these deaths in depth. It is therefore not surprising that they were able to point to deficiencies in the original investigations.”
“The TBPS has understood the need to take a critical view of the entire death investigation process which includes Police, the Coroner and the legislation which provides the legal
framework. Therefore, we are awaiting the final report, to be written by an independent author, which will provide recommendations that will be beneficial for not only the TBPS, but for all agencies involved in the death investigation system. These recommendations will have an impact on death investigations in Ontario.”
The Board is facing multiple complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
Senior leadership are under the microscope of the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) while Ontario Provincial Police is investigating the actions of other members of the force.
