North Bay Police Chief Scott Tod has overseen many investigations in his time as the Top Cop, however, a video taken at a local high school has really gotten to him.
The video shows students wearing Algonguin uniforms walking across the school's athletic field with some yelling "F*ck the Jews," and "Heil Hitler."
It caught the Chief off-guard.
"As the Chief of Police, I am disturbed watching that video and I only watched it about a half-hour ago," said Chief Tod.
"For that event to occur within the City of North Bay is shameful from my point of view. We are investigating, we take hate and intolerance seriously as a Police Service."
See related: Grade 8 hate speech video prompts police investigation
Tod says Hate Crimes require a thorough investigation using all forms of police resources.
"The school is working with the School Board as they are providing assistance to us," Tod added about Ecole secondaire catholique Algonquin and Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord.
"Some of the parents have been very good in regards to seeking and determining the truth of what happened and I think that is what is primarily important for the police service. We have to understand what has occurred in our community. How did this happen, why did it happen and how do we stop it from happening in the future?"
Tod, who spoke to the media after the police board meeting, was struggling with his emotions while talking about the incident.
"I do offer our condolences to the Jewish Community for having to see this video and see this happen in our community," noted Tod.
"It really is something in all the time I have been Chief of Police, I didn't think we'd have to deal with in our community. It is something very disturbing.
"The North Bay Police Service is asking the public to support the elimination of hate and intolerance and the acceptance of any behaviour that promotes the belief that hate speech and the promotion of intolerance to people based on their race, ethnicity, religion, skin colour, disability, sexual orientation, or other factors is not tolerated by the North Bay Police Service and by all the residents of the city of North Bay.
"When I see all the work the city has done and the inclusion in our community to all different people and the work that we have done in regards to many of the community groups and attracting new Canadians to North Bay, working with the indigenous community,the North Bay Equity and Inclusion Council, all these things that are occurring within our community and yet something like this happens it's really disturbing. That's the only way I can describe it, short of a criminal act."
