Police are still working to restore calm in the community of Montreal North more than a week after violent riots sparked by the death of a local teen.
Fredy Villanueva, 18, was fatally shot by police Aug. 9, which triggered rioting and looting in the neighbourhood the following day.
Since that shooting, the police have been repeatedly accused of racial profiling, something the force denies doing.
At a press conference Monday, Montreal police say all officers undergo a one-day course on racial sensitivity. Officers are also screened for any racial biases, the force added.
"We have to understand each other to do the right thing," Montreal Police Chief Yves Delorme said at a press conference Monday.
Fo Niemi of the Centre for Research Action on Race Relations told CTV Montreal that he believes that some police officers "subconsciously, not intentionally" racially profile.
"But then again some may do it deliberately," he said.
Montreal North 'inflamed'
Delorme said authorities have "established dialogue with the population in the area of Montreal North that was inflamed by the events of last week."
The number of officers and patrols in the area has increased in order to re-establish security, and the feeling of security for both the community and officers working there, he said.
Police have made 35 arrests in connection with the rioting.
The arrests reportedly came as the result of tips after police posted 170 photos on their website taken from security footage on the night of the riot.
Police are also encouraging community groups and parents to get more involved with youth in the area.
"We want to meet with parents, they really don't know what their young boy or girl is doing on the street, we just want to give them information to interact with their son or daughter," Delorme said. "So we have a lot programs directly with the parents and with different community workers on the street."
Delorme said that while he cannot comment on an ongoing provincial police inquiry into the shooting death of Villanueva, the police, like the public, are eagerly waiting for the results.
"The QPP has made it so that they will commit to a transparent inquiry and a quick inquiry in order to give the citizens (the information) as quickly as possible."
Montreal police are also stressing that the city remains a safe place, with a lower average youth crime rate than either the province of Quebec or the entire country.
With files from CTV Montreal
