Achi news desk-
The chairman of Thunder Bay’s police services board said last week’s criminal charges against the northwestern Ontario city’s former police chief are “deeply disturbing” and reaffirm efforts to rebuild community trust in the service.
Karen Machado and current police Chief Darcy Fleury spoke at a news conference Monday about the Ontario Provincial Police’s obstruction and breach of trust charges against Sylvie Hauth.
“The criminal allegations brought forward by the Ontario Provincial Police are deeply troubling,” said Machado. “There is a legal and ethical expectation … that information provided by the Thunder Bay Police Service is true and factual, to the board and to the community.
“It is essential for our community to have faith in the system that provides oversight to the Thunder Bay Police Service. I understand how these allegations have caused further doubts in these organizations and the system of policing and police oversight in Thunder Bay.”
Thunder Bay Police Service Chief Darcy Fleury talks about how the police service is trying to rebuild trust in the community of northwestern Ontario, as three current or former members of the service, including the former chief, face criminal charges.
Machado said the board has a vision to “modernize the service for the future and build truth and trust with the communities we serve”; That vision, he said, began with the appointment of Fleury and Deputy Prime Minister Ryan Hughes about a year ago.
“We are here today to send a strong message that the allegations, the alleged events of the past, are not a reflection of the work that is happening today,” he said. “Our board will not hesitate to act on any allegations of misconduct.”
The specific charges the OPP announced Friday against Hauth are:
- Obstructing a public officer or peace officer;
- Public officer breach of trust;
- Two counts of obstruction of justice.
Hauth was suspended in 2022 after the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) brought charges of misconduct against her under the Police Services Act. After nearly three decades with the service, he retired in 2023 before those allegations could be proven at a hearing.
At Monday’s news conference, Fleury said the charges “reinforced for me what I already knew — that a police chief needs to be honest and accountable.”
“This investigation started in 2022,” he said. “Leading up to that time, and since then, it has been a challenging time for our community. I recognize the erosion of trust in our service by some residents and I am inspired by the community’s desire to move forward, together. We are on a journey of healing.”
Fleury said the service has taken several steps towards rebuilding trust with the community, including forming an Indigenous advisory committee and working to start a diversity committee.
Systemic racism, as we know, has been prominent for many years, in almost all the reports we have seen.– Darcy Fleury, principal of TBPS
“Some of the boards, the policies or the procedures, have farmed out to some different agencies to get them to look at it,” he said. “Systemic racism, as we know, has been prominent for many years, in almost all the reports we’ve seen.
“So we have asked these agencies to go through our policies and procedures and make sure that the language in there is not going to be putting us back into a pattern of that kind of racism systemic or potential for that.”
Fleury said those steps are being taken to avoid putting Thunder Bay police officers on their feet “because we’re putting them out there with a policy that the community [doesn’t] agree with.”
“We’re working very hard on that,” Fleury said. “We’re going through this whole community, listening to everything that’s going on and trying to incorporate, and we’re going to be incorporating their ideas.
“Some of the marginalized communities, they have very strong opinions, and we have to listen to that and think of ways to make sure they are represented.”
A former chief officer is confident that she will ‘defeat,’ says a lawyer
In a statement after the OPP charges were announced Friday, Hauth’s lawyer, Scott Hutchinson, said the decision to lay charges was “disappointing and regrettable.”
“Chief Hauth is confident that the people of Thunder Bay will not rush to any judgment and respect the presumption of innocence. She is looking forward to her trial where she will present her defence. She is confident that she will prevail,” said Hutchinson.
Hauth has been released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Thunder Bay on May 7, the OPP said Friday, and his investigation is ongoing.
Last week, the OPP said Thunder Bay police lawyer Holly Walbourne was facing obstruction and breach of trust offences, Sgt Stafford said. Michael Dimini was charged in December with assault, breach of trust and obstruction of justice.
Fleury and Machado also issued statements Friday.
Fleury said police welcome the investigation and have cooperated fully with OPP.
“It’s another step towards resolving this issue and our ability to move forward as a whole as a police service,” Fleury said. “My hope is that members of the community will not allow the results of this investigation to overshadow the continued dedication and quality service provided by our TBPS.
“As the justice process takes place, we will continue on our path forward, learning from the past in order to make the best of our future.”
The statement from the oversight board thanked “the Ontario Provincial Police for its investigation” and said board members “remain seized with our collective mandate and responsibility to ensure that the Thunder Bay Police Service be governed effectively so that the city can have confidence in its police service.
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