Balmoral Street Police Station - (CJ Goater/Acadia Broadcasting)
The Inspector General of Policing Ontario has initiated an inspection of Thunder Bay’s police and police services board.
“I am committed to ensuring that the residents of Thunder Bay and the Indigenous communities in and around that city receive the effective, responsive, and accountable policing they deserve,” said Ryan Teschner. “In light of several public complaints the Inspectorate of Policing has received regarding the Thunder Bay Police Service, I have decided to conduct an inspection of the Service in accordance with my legislative mandate under Ontario’s Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA), which came into effect on April 1, 2024.”
The inspection team will also assess how the Police Service, and the Service Board that governs it, are addressing past recommendations made by other oversight bodies that have reviewed policing and police governance in Thunder Bay.
In addition to this inspection, the Inspectorate plans to monitor the Service and Board to ensure they are complying with the CSPA and its regulations more broadly, and that priority is given to addressing issues that have been well-documented and require focused attention.
The Inspector General of Policing has a mandate to drive improved performance and accountability in policing and police governance by ensuring adequate and effective policing is delivered across Ontario in compliance with the province’s policing legislation and standards.
In March 2023, Ryan Teschner was appointed as Ontario’s first Inspector General of Policing with duties and authorities under the CSPA.
