THUNDER BAY – A lawyer representing clients who have filed a number of human rights complaints against senior leadership at the Thunder Bay Police Service is calling for the immediate suspension of Police Chief Sylvie Hauth.
Chantelle Bryson says she and her clients, which include embattled Thunder Bay Police Services Board member and former chair Georgann Morriseau, is also seeking the suspension of TBPS lawyer Holly Walbourne.
Morriseau alleges continuing harassment from Hauth and Walbourne over not sharing the identity of an officer who allegedly informed her of a leak to a local blogger from inside the police department. She said she was also asked to protect the identity of the officer allegedly leaking material to the blogger.
Bryson also represents Const. Kelly Walsh and Const. Kerry Dunning, who have also filed human rights complaints against police leadership, whom they said ignored allegations they made of criminal behaviour on behalf of the same officer.
Instead, they allege, they were subject of harassment and Police Act hearings.
Morriseau filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario on Oct. 28, 2021. A week later Walsh filed his own complaint and then in November, a complaint was filed to the HRTO by Dunning.
Morriseau alleges she had been placed under investigation, the Thunder Bay Police Services Board alleging she had a pecuniary interest in materials presented by Hauth on Oct. 19. Morriseau, Walsh and Dunning on Dec. 1 filed a complaint with the Ontario Solicitor General’s office and the Ontario Civilian Police Commission in regard to the serious allegations against the subject officer, alleging both Walbourne and Hauth had personal and/or sexual relationships with the officer in question.
A complaint was also filed with the Attorney General’s office.
The allegations have not been tested or proven in court. TB Newswatch was told Hauth would not comment on the latest developments in the story.
Seven officers, a TBPS civilian employee and Morriseau are now involved in the complaints, with a further three complaints awaiting to be filed by another officer and two civilian police service members.
Thunder Bay Police in the interim have placed Deputy Police Chief Ryan Hughes on suspension on the basis of an unrelated internal police investigation.
This past Friday the OCPC announced it had opened an investigation into alleged misconduct by Hauth, Hughes and Walbourne.
Last Wednesday, the OPP confirmed it had opened an investigation into the criminal conduct allegations.
Bryson said it’s within the purview of the solicitor general, OCPC and the board to suspend Hauth and Walbourne immediately.
“It is beyond negligent to leave the chief, Holly Walbourne and the subject officer in TBPS headquarters without any limits on their authority or any supervision by the board or otherwise.
“It is equally beyond negligent to allow the board to continue to operate without appointment of an administrator by the Solicitor General or OCPC to ensure that matters are handled without conflict or bias through to resolution of the O.P.P. and OCPC investigations and the HRTO complaints,” Bryson said in a release issued on Monday.
