Montreal police dismiss seven officers following misconduct allegations

The Montreal police service (SPVM) has dismissed seven members of the force following allegations of discriminatory and racist conduct, according to a news conference held Monday.

Dismissals and allegations

At a news conference, SPVM Chief Fady Dagher stated that "the culture of silence" has been broken and noted that "some people say there are never any consequences at the SPVM. Today we are announcing exceptional measures."

Dagher added that the actions of the dismissed officers were "malicious" and not accidental mistakes. He stated the force made the decision in the name of the public interest and public security of the population, noting, "We judge a police offer based on how they treat a person who cannot defend themselves."

The dismissed personnel include members of a patrol unit in Montreal North that was dismantled in the summer. Investigations into that unit began in March following internal complaints regarding racism and criminal misconduct. One specific allegation involved officers cutting the hair of racialized citizens and keeping it as trophies, according to Chief Dagher.

The seven dismissed individuals also include personnel from a downtown station. This follows recent suspensions of two officers at that location for alleged discriminatory and derogatory acts.

Ongoing investigations and misconduct reports

Several other allegations of misconduct have surfaced in recent months:

• Station 39 (Montreal North): In mid-June, the SPVM disbanded a patrol unit following allegations of racist and discriminatory acts. This included two officers being immediately suspended, three being reassigned to administrative duties, and two more being suspended in August. In September, a sixth officer was suspended, and the file was sent to Quebec’s Crown prosecution office to determine if criminal charges are warranted.
• Domestic Violence Investigation: Last week, an officer was reassigned to administrative duties after being accused of interfering with a domestic violence investigation. Radio-Canada reported that the officer allegedly deleted video evidence from a smartphone provided by a victim and that the officer allegedly knew the alleged perpetrator.
• Station 21 (Downtown): Allegations reported by La Presse include one officer allegedly urinating on a person experiencing homelessness while in uniform, and another officer allegedly posing for photos mocking suspects under arrest in humiliating positions. This incident is under investigation by the Bureau des enquêtes independantes (BEI).

Chief Dagher warned the public that "there’s more to come," stating that evidence emerging from these misconduct investigations will be "catastrophic."

Why it matters

The dismissals follow a series of scandals that led the police service to suspend at least six officers in recent months. The Montreal North unit operated in a multicultural borough with a history of tensions between residents and police, including allegations of police brutality.

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Sources

• globalnews.ca: Montreal police fire 7 officers over misconduct allegations - Montreal | Globalnews.ca
• ctvnews.ca: 7 Montreal police officers dismissed

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.