Families With No Recourse for Racist and Incompetent Death Investigations Welcome Inspection of the Thunder Bay Police Service

THUNDER BAY, ON: Families with no recourse for credible death investigations into the loss of their loved ones are welcoming an inspection of the Thunder Bay Police Service by Ontario’s Inspector General of Policing announced this week.

On April 22, 2024, the families of Corey Belesky and Jenna Ostberg filed complaints with the Inspector General of Policing relating to concerns of racism and incompetency in the death investigations of their family members.

Corey Belesky was 31 years old at the time of his death. At approximately 1:10 a.m. on November 1, 2022, the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) was dispatched to a residential address following reports of an injured male. Following the arrival of TBPS, an adult male inside the home was pronounced dead at the scene. The deceased was later identified to be Corey Belesky. Despite the TBPS’s confirmation that the sudden death was being investigated as a homicide, and despite suspects being identified, to date, the death investigation has not been concluded and no charges have been laid.

Jenna Ostberg was 21 years old at the time of her death. On January 3, 2024, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) published a news release which stated that a 21-year-old woman, later identified as Jenna Ostberg, had been found dead in a Thunder Bay home after TBPS officers did not respond to a 911 domestic disturbance call. The family of Jenna Ostberg received no communication from the TBPS between December 30, 2023, until January 8, 2024. To the family’s knowledge, no one has been charged in relation to the death of Jenna Ostberg.

Given the TBPS’s historic and current failures to provide adequate and effective policing for Indigenous people, the families of Corey Belesky and Jenna Ostberg have no confidence or trust in TBPS to perform competent Indigenous death investigations.

Inspectors will evaluate how the TBPS conducts death and missing person investigations, focusing on compliance with the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 (CSPA) and leading practices. Inspectors will also assess how the TBPS and Board are addressing past recommendations made by other oversight bodies.

Quotes

“It has been two years since my brother’s death, and we still have no answers from the Thunder Bay Police. Our family’s priority is having Corey’s death investigated, and we don’t understand why it has taken so long to get information. We welcome the Inspectorate’s supervision and support and are hopeful that the inspection will help give our family answers.”

– Donna Belesky, sister of Corey Belesky

“Our family has not heard from the Thunder Bay Police investigator since January of 2024. Our daughter and her memory deserve a competent death investigation, and we do not have trust in the Thunder Bay Police to perform one. But we are optimistic about the Inspectorate’s involvement, as without the inspection, we are not confident our daughter’s death will ever be competently investigated.”

– Vincent Ostberg and Melanie Beardy, father and mother of Jenna Ostberg

“Our hearts have been with these courageous family members throughout their lengthy and painful struggle to get answers about the tragic losses of their loved ones. The Thunder Bay Police Service is a cold case factory when it comes to investigations into the deaths of Indigenous Peoples, and it is unacceptable that they have been forced to take this action. This inspection is an appropriate response to the complaints filed earlier this year and we acknowledge the action taken by the Inspector General. We will do everything we can to support these families and the important work that must be done to uncover the truth and hold those in authority accountable.”

– Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Nishnawbe Aski Nation

“Far too often, the missing persons cases and deaths of First Nations individuals have not been taken seriously by the Thunder Bay Police, which has profoundly hurt families treated with such disregard. We hope that the inspection by the Inspectorate General of Policing will result in some form of justice for the families of Corey and Jenna and uncover the concrete evidence to address the systemic racism within the TBPS in how they conduct death investigations. We further hope the inspection will signify the need for justice and dignity for other unnatural deaths that have not received a competent investigation by this police service.”

– Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum, Nishnawbe Aski Nation

“There is a complete lack of trust in the Thunder Bay Police Service and Board, particularly by Indigenous communities and families. The families of Jenna Ostberg and Corey Belesky want answers, and Thunder Bay Police Service has failed to provide those answers. The families are hopeful that the inspection will shed light on the failures of the Thunder Bay Police and give them the answers they deserve. Yesterday’s decision by the Inspectorate would not have been possible without the tremendous courage of the families.”

– Julian Falconer, legal counsel for the families of Jenna Ostberg and Corey Belesky.

Background

Nearly 50 family members, leaders, and supporters made an emotional appeal requesting that the Inspector General reassign the death investigations of Jenna Ostberg and Corey Belesky during a press conference at Queen’s Park on April 22, 2024.

Established under the CSPA, the Inspector General of Policing has a legislative mandate to drive improvements in policing performance, modernize police governance, and enhance public trust. Under the CSPA, the Inspector General (and the Inspectorate of Policing) has the authority to improve the performance of police services and police service boards by:

• Responding to public complaints concerning adequate and effective police service delivery and allegations of police board member misconduct.
• Imposing measures to ensure the provision of adequate and effective policing or in cases of a policing emergency.

The findings of the inspection, and any directions that may be issued as a result, will be made available on the Inspectorate of Policing’s website.

Copies of the complaints and background information available at: www.falconers.ca

Video of the April 22, 2024, press conference available at: https://youtu.be/eEs3FUES4h4

For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca