THUNDER BAY – The union representing city police officers is sounding off against negative criticism, including allegations that officers have thrown people in rivers.
The association, which represents all uniform and civilian members below the rank of inspector, issued a written statement on its Facebook page on Tuesday responding to recent graffiti found in two locations in the city saying for "police to stop throwing people in the river," as well allegations that two officers recently attempted to drown an Indigenous girl.
"Given that the Police Services Board and the Police Service have chosen to stay silent about the public trust issues our local police continue to experience, the Association feels it is necessary – on behalf of our members – to speak out and encourage awareness about the positive work being done to uphold public safety while dispelling the rumours being circulated by select groups and the media," the police association said in the statement.
Last month, a sign prominently displayed on a Fort William Road bridge read "Dear TBPS: Stop throwing people in river."
The police association statement mentions the police service's Project Floodway, which has increased patrols along watercourses and other key areas. There has been a 32 per cent decrease in the number of incidents between 2017 and 2018. In 2018, there were eight incidents deemed to be "definitely life-saving" while another 47 incidents were classified as "possible life-saving intervention."
The association also accuses the media of being "focused on reporting the negative police interactions that sometimes occur in the city," rather than "drawing public attention."
"This unbalanced perspective has the potential to further erode the public's trust in our members' ability to protect the community and further encourage public comments like the graffiti message, which results in creating a more challenging landscape for police to maintain public safety," the statement reads.
