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


October 3, 2025
The Thunder Bay Police Service is continuing to advise the public of scams that target local residents. Police regularly receive reports of residents who have been victimized by fraudulent residential rental scams. Residential rental scams happen when a person interested in renting a property believes they are communicating with the owner or landlord of an available property. The renter may be pressured into paying a deposit to view the property, or live elsewhere and be unable to view a property in person before agreeing to rent it. The renter pays a deposit, only to find that the property was never available for rent. The deposit – and the “landlord” - disappear. If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Red flags to watch for include the landlord asking for cash only, a cash security deposit, or money to be wired. Tips Don’t send money to anyone you have not met in person and/or for property you have not seen in person. Ask for identification from anyone showing you the property and write down the licence plate if they arrive in a vehicle. Search for owner information in the Land Titles office to confirm you are dealing with the owner. The Thunder Bay Police Service’s Economic Crime Unit urges residents to speak to family members and friends who may be vulnerable to being targeted by these types of scams. If you are concerned about potential scams and want to learn more, please visit https://www.thunderbaypolice.ca/safety/fraud-prevention or contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre ( http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/ ) To make a fraud/cyber crime online report to the Thunder Bay Police Service, please visit: https://www.services.tryrubicon.com/thunder-bay-police-service/online-reports/report/fraud-cybercrime