THUNDER BAY – NEWS – The Thunder Bay Police Service, in a media release report, “One Thunder Bay Police Service officer is currently suspended and four other officers have been assigned to administrative duties while allegations surrounding a September 17 and 18, 2016 Facebook postings are examined.
“Chief J.P. Levesque has made a formal request to the Office of the Independent Police Review Director to take carriage of the investigation. This request was made to ensure public confidence and transparency in this process. This step recognizes the compelling public interest in this matter.
“The primary comments are alleged to have been made from Cst. Robert Steudle’s personal Facebook account. Constable Steudle is suspended with pay at this time.
“We recognize the issues of trust and respect that this matter raises in regard to our relationship with Indigenous people. We will cooperate with the OIPRD’s investigation to resolve this matter in the most efficient means possible”.
The issue stems from postings made online on a letter that Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler wrote following comments from the City of Thunder Bay and the Police Service after a CBC report on how a Walk-a-Mile program facilitator ended a training session with TBPS Officers in July.
The relationship between the TBPS and the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation and Rainy River First Nation have brought forward a complaint about systemic racism in the Thunder Bay Police, which is currently under investigation.
