The Ontario Civilian Police Commission released board administrator Malcolm Mercer’s report on the troubled Thunder Bay Police Service Thursday.
The police services board currently has multiple vacancies and is effectively under the control of Mercer.
Thunder Bay is also on the search for a new police chief after Sylvie Hauth was suspended earlier this summer over allegations of misconduct.
However, Mercer says simply appointing a new board and chief will not solve the city’s policing problems.
In his report, he says the new board must reflect the true diversity of Thunder Bay and this includes representing the perspectives of all First Nations the police force serves.
The administrator also writes he is not convinced a small and part-time police services board has the capacity to implement the numerous recommendations that have been made on improving the force.
He concludes by saying another report will be forthcoming.
Thunder Bay police have long been plagued by poor relations with the local Indigenous community.
Ontario’s police watchdog is also currently investigating the police service.
APTN News reached out to Mercer for an interview but OCPC did not consent to this request.
