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Mayor challenges NAN to join city's crime prevention council

THUNDER BAY -- Mayor Keith Hobbs says it’s time to wake up the elephant in the room.
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City of Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs. (tbnewswatch.com file photograph)

THUNDER BAY -- Mayor Keith Hobbs says it’s time to wake up the elephant in the room.

Hobbs, reacting to news of the city’s fifth homicide of 2014, issued a challenge Tuesday to Nishnawbe Aski Nation leaders to come to the table and discuss the growing problem of violent Aboriginal on Aboriginal crime in Thunder Bay.

Hobbs also suggested it’s time the Thunder Bay Police Service consider a new way of doing business, saying it might be time to redeploy officers to the front line and away from specialized task forces.

On Friday night emergency crews located the body of a yet-to-be-named male in an Intercity-area field, a known hangout for the city’s homeless that in 2012 was the scene of another homicide.

A post-mortem released Tuesday showed the deceased had been badly beaten and burned.

On Tuesday police announced they had charged two men and a woman with second-degree murder. Keith Mishenene, 21, Felton Sakanee, 26 and Larissa Shingabis were arrested and are being held in custody.

Hobbs said no one seems to want to discuss the problem and open up Pandora’s box.

The mayor added he’s invited NAN leadership to join the city’s crime prevention council on several occasions, without success.

“They have turned us down,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Until the chiefs of the Northern communities and NAN show an interest in getting involved, it’s something the City of Thunder Bay is going to have to be on the hook for ourselves.”

NAN officials have been contacted for comment, but weren't immediately prepared to respond.

Hobbs said he realizes not all violent crimes are perpetrated by Aboriginals against other Aboriginals.

“I’m not saying all homicides are Aboriginal on Aboriginal, but if you check with police you’re going to find out most of them are,” he said.

He said the problem is growing and adding to the city’s violent crime rate, which has dropped again on Wednesday when the latest crime figures were released.

Asked about what to do about homeless gathering spots like the wooded area near Field Street where the most recent homicide occurred, Hobbs said it’s time police revisited how they do business, adding there are simply too many officers dedicated to specialized task forces.

“I think they’ve robbed from the front lines too much and I think you have to go back to bringing more officers on the front line,” said Hobbs, a former police officer who said when he was on the job, the department dealt with about 200 calls a night.

“It’s always been a very busy city, but I think redeployment of staff has to be considered as well.”

The mayor said he realizes most of the violent crime in the city, multiple times labeled as the murder capital of Canada, is fueled by alcohol and drug addiction, problems he believes can be solved with the proper resources.

He suggested turning areas like the Field Street area into park or recreational areas, though he knows environmentalists might be opposed.

“But you can’t have your cake and eat it too,” he said. “Those are perfect breeding grounds for people with addictions.”

 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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