The pandemic has been a “real setback” as officials reinvestigate the deaths of nine Indigenous people in Thunder Bay.
Retired OPP inspector Ken Leppert tells us in an effort to keep the health and safety of the investigators and witnesses a top priority, it has caused some delays beyond their control.
“There’s a number of investigative steps that are also being delayed as a result of the pandemic that in some cases are outside of our investigative team,” explains Leppert.
The former police inspector is optimistic the investigations will be finished in short order, but he could not give a timeline but indicates they are “close to the end.”
The report was originally set to be released last summer, but the pandemic forced the delay.
The review was ordered by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director as part of a report entitled “Broken Trust” which indicated there is systemic racism within the Thunder Bay Police Service.
The Ontario police watchdog ruled the deaths of Jethro Anderson, Shania Bob, Christine Gliddy, Aaron Loop, Sarah Moonias, Kyle Morrisseau, Marie Spence, Curran Strang, and Jordan Wabasse were not properly investigated.
Leppert stresses before the report is released it will be presented to the governance committee, the families, and their communities for approval.
