May 2025

May 5, 2025

On Tuesday, April 22, TBPS Chief Darcy Fleury hosted a Chat with the Chief at BGC Thunder Bay. Very rich and candid conversations occurred between Chief Fleury and community members. Below are some of the questions and answers discussed. 


What feedback does Chief Fleury hear most often from community members?

  • People ask for more police presence in neighbourhoods.
  • We want this, too. Our current reality is that Primary Response officers are constantly attending priority calls.
  • In addition to responding to calls for service in real-time, our focus has been on guns and gangs.
  • We focused on getting drugs, guns and criminals off the streets, and there is more to be done in this area before we can dedicate officers to neighbourhood policing.


How does TBPS support victims of crime?

  • The safety and wellness of victims is a top priority.
  • Trauma-informed approaches are applied to interactions with victims, witnesses, and suspects.
  • Our dedicated Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking investigators are specifically trained to minimize victim re-traumatization during investigations.
  • These investigators are strongly connected with local agencies that support and advocate for victims.
  • The TBPS Social Navigation Coordinator links victims of crime with the services they may need. 

 

What happens when a person complains about a police officer?

  • The Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) handles intake of public complaints about police officers. LECA is an independent oversight agency that makes sure complaints against police officers are taken seriously and investigated accordingly.
  • Anyone can file a complaint through the LECA (online or by mail) or at the police station.
  • LECA reviews complaints against their guidelines/rules to determine if a full investigation is appropriate.
  • If suitable, LECA might offer a chance to resolve the issue informally.
  • If an investigation is needed, LECA will determine whether it is to be conducted by TBPS Professional Standards, an outside police service, or if LECA themselves will retain the investigation.
  • The person making the complaint will be provided with the Final Report outlining the findings of the investigation and can appeal the findings with LECA if they are unsatisfied.
  • Once the investigation is complete, if misconduct is found, the officer may face penalties. Although uncommon, this can include possible hearings.
  • The person making the complaint will be told the outcome and any action taken.
  • In 2024, 64 complaints were made about TBPS officers. Of those: 31 were determined by LECA to not merit an investigation and 10 were resolved locally (a process to resolve complaints before they go formal. These complaints are received and dealt with directly at the police station). Of the 23 remaining complaints: 5 were unsubstantiated; 2 were withdrawn; 1 was resolved informally (which can occur during an investigation); 6 were terminated/suspended investigations; and 9 remained ongoing into 2025.

 

Have a question for the Chief?


Join Chief Darcy Fleury for a “Chat with the Chief”:


Thursday, May 22 at 6:00 pm (symposium at 5:30)

Waverley Resource Library, Red River Road


Everyone is welcome.


Anyone can submit questions in advance at https://forms.office.com/r/cuPSF5LFrH. 


Special Constables appointed


Earlier this month, TBPS formally welcomed seven new Special Constables to the service. Special Constables are civilian employees, meaning they are not police officers, but they are granted some of the powers and responsibilities of a peace officer and are tasked with specific duties. The Special Constables were required to complete training as outlined under the Community Safety and Policing Act, with a final examination through the Ontario Police College. All were successful and sworn in as Special Constables. TBPS is dedicated to education and training and focuses on fostering a learning environment. 


Recently sworn-in Special Constables Aaron Bogensberger, Jordyn Paris, Mitch Beaulieu, Alanna Hughes, Francesco Leuzzi, Jennifer Porter-McKever, and David Goose.


Answer the call. To learn more about career opportunities at TBPS, visit thunderbaypolice.ca/careers.


Update from the Thunder Bay Police Service Board:


In April, the board released its Q1/2025 report. You can read the report here: https://thunderbaypsb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Thunder-Bay-Police-Service-Board-Q1-Report-2025.pdf


The Board is excited to move forward with the hiring of a new Executive Director. A recruitment process is underway, with the Board engaging Phelps Canada to conduct a search of suitable executive and leadership candidates. A formal job posting will soon be publicly available. The need for an Executive Director was first identified in the 2018 Sinclair Report by the late Senator Murray Sinclair, who noted: “Given the extensive recommendations in the report, it’s suggested this become a full-time position for several years.”


Coming up in May….


The Board’s next meeting is Tuesday May 20th at 10:30 AM. Watch the meeting LIVE: https://video.isilive.ca/thunderbay/live.html


Thunder Bay Police respond to weapons call on city’s north end

January 18, 2026
TB26002366 The Thunder Bay Police Service is continuing to investigate following a weapons incident that occurred on the morning of January 18, 2026. Officers with the Primary Response Unit were sent to Memorial Avenue, around 2:00 a.m. in response to an individual who had been located with injuries. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The Major Crime Unit is involved in the ongoing investigation. A visible police presence is expected in the 10th Avenue area.

Drug trafficking investigation leads to charges

January 15, 2026
TB26001908 A Thunder Bay Police Service drug trafficking investigation has led to charges. On January 14, 2026, Intelligence Unit officers executed a search warrant at a home on Machar Avenue. During the search suspected illegal drugs including cocaine and fentanyl were seized, along with cash, and other items associated with drug trafficking. As a result of the investigation 25-year-old Levi BELL, 37-year-old Samantha BENNETT-DOLPH, 50-year-old Devon BOND, 34-year-old Linda LEDGER, 48-year-old Kelsey TENHUNEN, 33-year-old Wayne WOODBECK, and 38-year-old Dustin WOODBECK, all from Thunder Bay, are facing the following charges: • Possession for purpose of trafficking cocaine • Possession for purpose of trafficking fentanyl • Proceeds of crime over $5,000 Wayne WOODBECK and Levi BELL have also been charged with breach of probation. Total street value of drugs seized is roughly $6,500. BENNETT-DOLPH, and BOND have been released from custody with a future court date. The remaining accused remain in custody with a future court date.

Police response to weapons call leads to charges

January 13, 2026
TB25050587 One person is facing charges following a police response to a weapons call. Thunder Bay Police Service officers were sent to a home on Blucher Avenue around 6:30 p.m. on December 29, 2025, in response to reports of an altercation. Officers arrived and contained the scene. Two residents of the home were present, but the suspect had left the scene. Another call for service came in from a separate residence on Blucher Avenue while officers were speaking with the two residents. Officers were able to confirm the presence of the suspect in the second residence. Members of the Primary Response Unit and the Emergency Task Unit were able to safely arrest the suspect a short time later. As a result of the investigation, 27-year-old Bryson Matinet from Thunder Bay is facing the following charges: • Assault (two counts) • Assault with a weapon • Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm (two counts) • Possession of weapon for dangerous purpose • Pointing a firearm • Disobeying an order of court • Unauthorized possession of a firearm The accused was held in custody for a future court date.