Native Group Upset By Officer Punishment

The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is furious with what it is calling “a slap on the hand” for an OPP officer.
Kenora OPP Constable Maurice Lalonde has pleaded guilty to dishonourable conduct in a case involving the e-mailing of a crime scene photo in October 2000.
The picture showed cuts and bruises to the face of a First Nations man with a racist caption.
During a police tribunal yesterday, Lalonde was demoted from first class constable to second class constable for a period of nine months.
Nishnawbe-Aski Grand Chief Stan Beardy says the punishment reinforces the widely held belief in the OPP that natives are not people and that racism is tolerated in the force.
A second officer from North Bay has also be charged in the case.