While Timmins Police can’t comment on the specifics of the deaths being investigated by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Mayor Steve Black, who is the police services board chair, addressed the issue at Thursday's meeting.
Two separate incidents last weekend are being investigated by the SIU.
The Ontario agency is looking into circumstances around the death of 21-year-old Joey Knapaysweet Feb. 3, and 62-year-old Agnes Sutherland, who died in hospital Feb. 4 after being in police custody.
“The board and administration won’t be making any public statements into the actual occurrences and operations of what happened, that matter is under the investigation by the SIU and we will wait for those reports to come forward and allow that process to take its course,” Black said.
The SIU is a civilian agency. It investigates incidents involving police when there is a death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
Under its regulations, the police force is not able to comment on the incident or investigation.
Black did say, however, that the police service has brought in professionals to help the officers through this time.
He has also met with First Nation leaders to talk about relationships, and some of the concern in the community.
He stressed those discussions weren’t about the actual events.
“But I think it’s important that we all work together as we go forward to instill that sense of trust and relationship and well-being and safety,” he said.
For the police service, Black said the last time there was an incident with a firearm being discharged was 34 years ago.
“It’s not a matter I believe anyone would say is something you come into work expecting or anticipating that that may happen and at the end of the day we have a police service that comes to work hoping to do their job and maintain safety in the community, but also go home safe at the end of the days to their families,” he said.
Black said it’s been a “very difficult week” for the police service. He also acknowledged that people from First Nations communities are accessing services in Northern Ontario’s regional hubs and that there is a “need for us to ensure that they are comfortable with the relationships between our cities and their communities”.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Mushkegoweuk Council Grand Chief Jonathan Solomon and For Albany First Nation Chief Andrew Solomon have also addressed the issue in a joint statement.
“We are shocked that two Fort Albany members have died at the hands of police. We are very troubled by these tragedies and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and Fort Albany community,” reads the statement.
“We do not yet know all the facts around these altercations but encourage the Special Investigations Unit and the Chief Coroner of Ontario to get to the bottom of these incidents without delay. Our people must continually leave their families and communities to come to cities to seek service that are not available in their respective communities. We have seen systemic racism in the City of Thunder Bay, and must now wonder if this is also happening in Timmins. We expect the respective ministries and officials to take these concerns seriously and work with the families of the deceased, the Fort Albany community, the Mushkegowuk Council, and the City of Timmins.”
Moving forward, Black said they’ll continue working together to heal and “taking the time to process what has happened when the SIU concludes their reports and investigation.”
“And we won’t be making any further public comment on that other than our condolences obviously go out to the families who have lost loved ones over the past week and the communities who are suffering through that and our prayers and thoughts are with them as they go through that mourning process,” he said.
At this week's Timmins council meeting, Black also addressed the public's response to the events on social media.
Tuesday, more than 100 people attended a vigil for Knapaysweet at Gillies Lake.
