THUNDER BAY - The Thunder Bay Police Service has outlined the framework and the individuals who will be responsible for the reinvestigation into nine sudden death cases involving Indigenous people in the city.
A systemic review of the police service by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director found there was a lack in quality in the initial investigations into nine sudden deaths involving Indigenous people.
One of the 44 recommendations handed down in Gerry McNeilly’s report included an independent, multidisciplinary team reinvestigate the nine cases.
During a Thunder Bay Police Services Board meeting held in June, Thunder Bay Police Service chief, Sylvie Hauth, informed the Board that the reinvestigation of the cases will involve a three-tiered framework, consisting of an executive governance committee, an investigative resource committee, and a blended investigative team.
On Wednesday, Thunder Bay Police released the details of who will be on each tier of the framework for the reinvestigation into the nine cases.
The three tiers consist of the following individuals:
Executive Governance Committee:
• The Honourable Stephen Goudge
• Chief Sylvie Hauth, Thunder Bay Police Service
• Dr. Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner of Ontario
• Dr. Michael Pollanen, Chief Forensic Pathologist and Deputy Chief Coroner (Ontario)
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler
Investigative Resource Committee:
• Dr. Kona Williams, Forensic Pathologist – Director of Sudbury Forensic Pathology Unit
• Dr. Barry McLellan, Investigating Coroner
• Susan Orlando, Crown Attorney
• Kimberly Murray, Indigenous Justice Division – Ministry of the Attorney General
• Other experts will be utilized as required
Blended Investigative Team:
• Detective Superintendent Ken Leppert (Ret - OPP)
• Nishnawbe Aski Police Service Detective Constable
• 5 Thunder Bay Police Service Detective Constables
Hauth told the Police Services Board in June that members from the Thunder Bay Police Service involved in the blended investigative team would not have been involved in the initial investigation of any of the nine cases in question.
The sudden deaths being reinvestigated include Christine Gliddy, Shania Bob, Marie Spence, Aaron Loon, Sarah Moonias, as well as four cases involved in the Seven Youth Inquest – Jethro Anderson, Curran Strang, Kyle Morrisseau, and Jordan Wabasse.
