Concern over the lack of action by the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) and the Thunder Bay Police Services Board (TBPSB).
In an OP-ED posted on the Facebook page of the Thunder Bay Police Association (TBPA) Saturday, President Colin Woods stated that Chief Sylvie Hauth and the Board seem more worried about getting a new building approved and not on the very serious issues that are happening within.
“While the employees do need a new station, we need the issues inside fixed first,” the statement read. “Not only do our members feel unable to voice their concerns without consequence, but we are extremely concerned by the growing number of members who have filed human rights complaints against the service. This consistent, systemic, poor treatment of individual members has been practically ignored by the Thunder Bay Police Services Board (TBPSB). Promises by the police service to address these issues and work collaboratively with the association have gone unfulfilled. Critically, the Board seems to have no interest in exercising any true oversight over Chief Hauth.”
68 per cent of the membership took part in a satisfaction survey conducted by a third party in early 2021. Woods noted that the findings were presented to the Chief and senior command back in May 2021 along with the TBPSB in hopes of starting a dialog and working collaboratively to make some positive changes at the service.
Woods added that they are speaking out publicly once again to voice our concern with the continued inaction of the TBPS and the TBPSB, and the fact that they have both allowed the issues to continue and only get worse.
The Thunder Bay Police Association represents over 350 officers and civilian police service employees in Thunder Bay and Oliver Paipoonge.
The full statement can be read below.
