THUNDER BAY -- Members of the public will get an opportunity Monday evening to share their views on how the Thunder Bay Police Service conducts Indigenous death and missing person investigations.
Ontario's Office of the Independent Police Review Director is holding the first open meeting as part of its systemic review of the police service.
OPIRD director Gerry McNeilly and his staff, who began the review last fall, have already visited the city almost two dozen times for meetings with individuals, First Nations leaders, Indigenous organizations, community organizations and members of the TBPS and TBPS board.
McNeilly said the OPIRD has received valuable information and insight from a range of perspectives, and now he wants Thunder Bay residents to provide input that will "add to our understanding and our ability to provide meaningful recommendations for improvement."
The Thunder Bay Police Association has said it welcomes the inquiry but hopes it will consider a balance of perspectives.
Its executive issued a public call on the weekend for citizens to attend the meeting and share their "opinions, concerns and experiences" with the Thunder Bay Police Service.
On Monday, TBPA President Greg Stephenson elaborated, saying the association is not afraid of the public's input, and in fact welcomes it, "but obviously we would like all aspects, all points of view represented."
Stephenson added, "To be fair to everybody, we just want everybody to know that the meeting is coming up."
In the public letter, the association stated that it has fully cooperated with the OIPRD and looks forward to its recommendations, adding "There is always room for improvement."
Stephenson, however, said Monday that the TBPA has had concerns about some quotes attributed to McNeilly in media reports while the investigation is still underway.
"We are certainly concerned with some of the comments that Mr. McNeilly has stated in the press, and we brought that to his attention. If nothing else, we want a fair, unbiased investigation."
In announcing the public meeting, McNeilly said he's inviting perspectives, suggestions and guidance from the public to help him better understand community relations and policing in Thunder Bay, as he examines allegations of systemic discrimination and deficient investigations.
The meeting will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Da Vinci Centre on Waterloo Street.
