In an effort to transform its organizational culture, the Montreal police service has initiated a comprehensive action plan to regain community confidence and combat discrimination in response to claims of racial profiling by a group of officers in the city’s northern region. This strategy involves immediate disciplinary measures alongside ongoing oversight, focusing on transparent communication and shared accountability with local residents. The announcement was made at a public meeting with the city’s public security commission at city hall on Tuesday evening, where Chief Fady Dagher addressed the controversy and called for change in front of a large audience of concerned citizens.
The accusations of racial profiling by a group of officers in Montreal’s Montréal-Nord neighborhood came to light in June during a late-night press conference led by Dagher. He disclosed that 16 officers at Station 39 were under investigation for alleged racist and hateful actions during police stops involving Black and Arab individuals. Consequently, Dagher disbanded the 16-member patrol team after the officers’ colleagues reported their behavior.
During the meeting, Dagher revealed that three officers have been suspended, and the investigation is ongoing, with the most recent suspension occurring on June 18. A key aspect of the police service’s new approach is the encouragement of both internal and external whistleblowing to address misconduct effectively. Officials from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) emphasized that future policy changes will be developed in collaboration with local stakeholders and community organizations.
Dagher acknowledged that effecting change is a lengthy and challenging process, recognizing the need for further efforts. The dismantling of the unit does not imply that all 16 officers are implicated in misconduct, and the internal investigation is ongoing. Cedric Couture, the deputy director of the Montreal police responsible for neighborhood policing, mentioned the deployment of a new team in the community on July 13 to replace the disbanded unit.
The allegations have reignited concerns about racism and racial profiling in Montréal-Nord, prompting residents to demand more transparency regarding the investigation. Community members expressed anxiety about systemic racism within the SPVM and sought assurance on the eradication of such practices. Dagher reassured the public of ongoing criminal investigations and suspensions, underscoring the continuous efforts to address these issues. He stressed the collaborative work with Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions to tackle racial profiling and discrimination systematically, emphasizing the gradual progress being made in the right direction.