THUNDER BAY – After being called out by Indigenous leaders for their handling of recent deaths of Aboriginal youth, the Thunder Bay Police Service plans to speak publicly about the realities and challenges facing the force.
Thunder Bay Police Services Board Chair Jackie Dojack, acting Police Chief Sylvie Hauth and acting Deputy Chief Don Lewis will address the media on Wednesday afternoon at police headquarters.
Last week Indigenous leaders requested the RCMP be brought in to handle the 2017 deaths of 17-year-old Tammy Keeash and 14-year-old Josiah Begg, whose bodies were pulled from the Neebing McIntyre Floodway.
They’re also asking the RCMP to dig further into the 2015 death of Stacy Debungee, who was also pulled from a Thunder Bay river. Police were quick to label the death non-suspicious in nature, a decision disputed by witnesses who last year told CTV’s W5 a different version of the events that led to Debungee’s death.
The three most recent deaths brings the count to seven, the number of Aboriginals found dead in local waterways since 2001.
Adding fuel to the fire, Police Chief J.P. Levesque is on medical leave and under indefinite suspension for obstruction of justice and breach of trust charges court filings show to be related to Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs.
The news conference will be recorded and made available to the public through the police service's social media channels.
