Family of Bruce Frogg heartbroken police were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing

Esther Frogg says the justice system has failed her family but most of all she says “they completely failed my father by not granting him justice.” Esther, the first born daughter of the late Bruce Frogg, said she is “absolutely enraged, heartbroken and discouraged” at the outcome of the Ontario Special Investigation Unit’s (SIU) final report that cleared police of any criminal wrongdoing in the shooting death of her father a little more than a year ago. The SIU report, released on Wednesday, “found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death” of Frogg, 57, when he was shot at Anicinabe Park in Kenora, Ont., on June 25, 2024. The SIU investigates any incident where a member of the public is injured or killed while interacting with police. “I truly believe the justice system is flawed in the way the investigation was conducted as it took a full year,” said Esther Frogg. The SIU said in the report that a “delay was incurred in the investigation because of an internal administrative error in which the Chemistry Report, duly received by the Centre of Forensic Services on November 26, 2024, was not forwarded to appropriate staff within the SIU on a timely basis.” Esther Frogg with her father. The report also said a “delay was also incurred because of workload pressures affecting the investigation team and the Director’s Office.” According to the report, Frog, from Wawakapewin First Nation and living in Kenora at the time, was captured on video as he entered the park “pushing a shopping cart, poured a liquid substance on the wood box outside of the office building, and lit the shopping cart on fire.” According to the SIU, OPP officers were dispatched to the park shortly after 12:00 p.m. following a call an employee of the park’s office. “He was in a highly agitated state when he showed up at the park office with his cart and containers of flammable liquid. The Complainant would proceed to splash the fluid around the exterior of the building and in his cart of wood before setting the cart on fire beside an exterior wall of the office next to a wooden box containing firewood.” When the first OPP officer arrived on the scene at 12:05 p.m., Frogg was carrying around a machete in each hand. According to the report, the OPP officer “asked him to calm down and drop the knives.” The report said Frogg was “extremely upset and waved the machetes in front of him. He said that no one helped him.” Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario said in a statement on Wednesday that it rejects the SIU report. “We believe the SIU’s investigation has raised more questions than answers, and that this process is severely flawed,” said Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler. “We are working closely with the family and community to explore other avenues for justice.” “I want full accountability and justice for my dad,” says Esther Frogg. “If the justice system refuses to grant him that than me and my family will. My father deserves better than this. Just because he is Indigenous does not make him any less human.” Esther says her father was a loving man, father and grandfather whose life was tragically cut short. She says he was an avid outdoors man who truly loved his land and loved to hunt. “Both the communities of Wapekeka and Wawakapewin have lost a great hunter, teacher, provider and friend. With Wapekeka, Wawakapewin, NAN and my family beside me, we will fight this injustice,” she says. Continue Reading