Heavy police presence expected on Thunder Bay’s north end

The Thunder Bay Police Service responded to a call regarding an assault in the Boulevard Lake area yesterday morning. The suspect has not yet been located and the investigation is ongoing. The suspect may be wearing a yellow, orange and white plaid jacket. He is described as being light-skinned, in his 30s or 40s, with grey in his hair and an unkempt appearance. Community members are asked to use caution while using recreational trails in the area. For personal safety, residents are encouraged to: • Walk with another person whenever possible • Avoid wearing headphones or earbuds that block out surrounding sounds • Remain aware of your surroundings at all times • Stay clear of dark, isolated, or closed in areas Police continue to patrol the area and remain committed to ongoing efforts to identify and locate the individual involved. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Thunder Bay Police Service at (807) 684-1200. Further updates will be shared as information becomes available.

Project Support: Downtown Core Stabilization Q. What is it? A. The pilot project began on April 20 and will continue for 60 days. It involves teams conducting visible foot patrols in North and South downtown cores to deter disorder, respond quickly to concerns, and increase public confidence. Each patrol team is paired with a Social Navigator and/or Community Integration Team (CIT) Coordinator, ensuring service engagement is the first point of contact. Individuals are offered referrals to addiction treatment, mental health services, housing supports, and other appropriate resources. Q. What sort of safety concerns led to this project? A. We’re responding to concerns we’ve heard consistently about unsafe behaviours, trespassing, vandalism, public intoxication. This is a proactive initiative aimed at improving safety in shared public spaces in downtown cores. Our goal is to help connect people with the assistance that best suits their needs. Q. How does this address the needs of people? A. Our focus and first contact is outreach. Our main goal is to connect people with the most appropriate social services to suit their needs. Criminal enforcement may be pursued if disruptive or illegal behaviours in shared public spaces in downtown cores persists. Q. Will this reduce police availability for other calls for service? A. The initiative is being operated by our Community Oriented Response and Engagement Unit and will not directly impact Primary Response Unit staffing or response time.