One city police officer has been suspended and four others are on administrative duties as the force examines allegations surrounding Facebook postings

THUNDER BAY – A Thunder Bay Police Service officer has been suspended with pay and four others re-assigned to administrative duties after racist comments were allegedly made on the personal Facebook page of the now-suspended officer.

Const. Rob Steudle allegedly made the online remarks in reaction to a letter to the editor sent to the Chronicle Journal by Nishnawbe-Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler accusing the newspaper of attempting to justify the actions of officers who were accused of verbally abusing a female trainer during an anti-racism seminar.

In the comment, the author, purporting to be Steudle, suggested that “Natives are killing natives and it’s the white man’s fault. Natives are drunk on the street and it’s the white man’s fault,” and went on to accuse the trainer of lying about how she was treated.

The author then said “let’s stop giving Natives money and see how that goes.”

TB Newswatch has not independently confirmed that the Facebook page in question belonged to Steudle.

Police Chief J.P. Levesque has made a formal request has made to the Office of the Independent Police Review director to take over the investigation.

“This request was made to ensure public confidence and transparency in this process,” said executive officer Chris Adams in a release issued by police on Wednesday afternoon.

“This step recognizes the compelling public interest in this matter.”

Levesque acknowledged the incident is damaging to an already fragile relationship between police and the indigenous community in Thunder Bay.

“We will co-operate with the OIPRD’s investigation to resolve this matter in the most efficient means possible,” Adams said.