Thunder Bay police investigate Facebook comments deemed 'not acceptable'

The Thunder Bay Police Service is conducting an internal investigation into comments posted on a local media outlet's Facebook page, that the force deemed "not acceptable," according to a press release issued by police Thursday.

The comments appeared on the Facebook page of Thunder Bay daily newspaper The Chronicle-Journal on September 17 and 18, after the paper had posted a letter written by Nishnawbe AskiNation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, policesaid.

In the release, police explained that aThunder Bay-based reporter from APTN News provided police with a number of comments that were posted in reaction to the letter.

"It is alleged that these comments had the involvement of members of the Thunder Bay Police Service," the release stated.

The incident is now the subject of a Police Services Act investigation by the force's Professional Standards Unit. A police spokesperson told CBC News he could not comment further due to the active investigation.

"We would like to thank the reporter fromAPTNNews for bringing these comments forward to police,"themediarelease stated.

"These types of comments are not acceptable. They do not reflect the values of the Thunder Bay Police Service. We would like to apologize to our Indigenous community for the hurt these comments may cause."

The statement added that the investigation is a top priority for Thunder Bay police.