Stacey DeBungie’s family wants Thunder Bay, Ontario police officers to be fired at the start of disciplinary hearings

The family of Rainy River First Nation’s Stacey DeBungee wants police officers in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to be fired for failing to investigate a sudden death in 2015.

After three weeks of hearings that began May 30, Sergeant. Sean Harrison was convicted under Ontario’s Police Services Act (PSA) for dereliction of duty and dishonorable conduct.

On the morning of October 19, 2015, the body of Ojibway First Nation DeBungie, 41, was found in the McIntyre River, but within hours Thunder Bay Police Department (TBPS) reported to media authorized by Harrison. issued a release. Police said they suspected “no wrongdoing”. The next day, before an autopsy was conducted, police announced his second release that Devansey’s death was “no crime”.

“The family realizes they are irreparably wounded in really understanding what happened to Stacey,” Devangey attorney Asha James said in a statement.

“Families want a service that says, ‘Yes, we need some accountability and we can’t allow this kind of police in our ranks,'” James said. he said, adding that it was “troublesome”. Harrison was training other officers on major criminal investigations at the time of his PSA hearings this spring.

In a 119-page verdict, adjudicator Greg Walton found evidence that Harrison “failed to treat the investigation equally without discriminating because of Stacey Devansey’s Indigenous status.”

Walton added that Harrison made a written decision that:

• We prematurely concluded that sudden death was not suspicious.
• Scenes could not be managed properly.
• We were unable to confirm that a key witness was formally interviewed.
• Report could not be verified.

Walton said, “The failure to conduct a proper investigation, including the premature conclusion that the death was not suspicious, is due, at least in part, to unconscious bias,” Harrison said. He added that he should have questioned how, and how, influenced his investigation.

The second officer, who faced a PSA hearing, was acquitted of charges of dereliction of duty and dishonorable conduct, and the third officer resigned before the hearing.

family standing up

Two days are set aside for disciplinary hearings. Attorneys present evidence and discuss what appropriate disciplinary action is.

These actions can range from confiscation of salaries and holidays, demotions and even termination.

Brad Devansey and his sister Candice are expected to testify about the effects of their brother’s death and how inadequate sudden death investigations and lack of answers have affected their lives.

Brad told CBC News that he hopes Harrison will be fired, but isn’t optimistic.

“My expectations are probably too high because of what the outcome will be. [likely] They will be generous with him,” he said.

If Harrison is fired, Brad said it means this seven-year journey to get answers and accountability will not be in vain.

“Now is the time to make a change, but if things don’t change, things will stay the way they are,” Brad added.

Judge Walton will have many factors to consider in his decision, Asha James said.

“I think it’s clear that there is a significant lack of public trust in the Indigenous community for Thunder Bay police,” James said.

Complaints by DeBungee’s family and then-Rainy River First Nation chief Jim Leonard led to two major reviews of TBPS in 2018. Both found evidence of systemic racism within the service and its oversight board.

James said he doesn’t expect a decision this week on what disciplinary action will be taken against Harrison.