ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) announced that they are conducting a criminal investigation into the actions of members of the Thunder Bay Police Service.  The announcement made on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, is subsequent to the request made by the Ministry of Attorney General regarding an investigation into current human rights complaints against the Thunder Bay Police Service…The statement did not identify the subjects of the probe and clarified that the OPP investigation is not connected to one being conducted by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

“The Anishinabek Nation commends the efforts of the Ontario Provincial Police services in their criminal investigation processes into the Thunder Bay Police Service. The consistency of corruptive behaviour and racism displayed from this police service is resulting in continual Human Rights complaints and has been a detrimental factor in unnecessary deaths and mistreatment of members of our Nations,” states Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe. “We hope the outcomes of this investigation assist in the acceleration of the recommendations with the Broken Trust: Indigenous People and the Thunder Bay Police Service Report.”

A separate inquiry called by the Solicitor General is being conducted by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission into the police service’s leadership, including Chief Sylvie Hauth and Deputy Chief Ryan Hughes, who has been suspended since January 28, 2022, highlights the dire state of internal and external affairs of this police service.