THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay’s Police Board chair said the Fifth Estate’s interview with the city's police chief represented a narrow view.
On Tuesday, Thunder Bay’s Police Board discussed last week’s Fifth Estate interview with J.P. Levesque regarding the police's handling of a death in the city and the criticism that investigators ruled no foul play much too early.
Board chair Jackie Dojack believed the interview gave a narrow view on the perspective of the Thunder Bay Police Service.
“I think we need a broader view of the Thunder Bay Police Service,” Dojack said.
“We know that recent surveys in Thunder Bay have shown a very high degree of satisfaction with the service and the safety in the community, so we need put that into perspective.”
Dojack added that TBPS needs to recognize there are some Indigenous people in the city who have concerns regarding relationships with the police.
The Office of the Independent Police Review Director is doing a systemic review of the city’s police service.
“We are welcoming that as an opportunity to get recommendations on how we can improve everybody in the service,” she said.
“Everybody on the board and all of our police officer live in this community, and we all want a community that is safe and inclusive for everybody.”
Dojack said TBPS will examine the review, and make the changes needed in training or in practices.
“We need to have better communication, and better relationships with Indigenous organization here and with our Indigenous communities,” she said.
“We need to look at what our relationship is with those communities, so let’s find out what the concerns are and then let’s address them.”
