Deputy chief 'infuriated' by poor funding

The deputy chief of the Nishnawbe Aski police service is frustrated because he says governments are failing to provide adequate funding for the force.

Bob Herman said base funding levels haven't increased since 2009 and officers are working without adequate staffing or equipment. Some officers are working out of old detachments that would not meet minimal standards for other police forces, he added.

"It's disheartening and kind of infuriating at the same time," Herman said.

"You would want to see the same standard applied to a police officer — whether it's the OPP or a municipal police officer — to a First Nations police officer [who] are working in extremely difficult conditions."

First Nations police forces are jointly funded by the federal and provincial governments.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police employs more than 134 uniform officers and 30 civilians and polices 35 communities across the Nishnawbe-Aski territory across northern Ontario.