Two Montreal police (SPVM) officers have been suspended amid an internal investigation into alleged abuses of power, the force confirmed to CTV News on Friday. This comes after a report by La Presse, which revealed two separate incidents involving officers from Station 21, which oversees the downtown Ville-Marie East area, as well as the Centre Sud, Île Notre-Dame, Île Sainte-Hélène and Old Montreal districts. One of the incidents involved an officer who allegedly deliberately urinated on a homeless person in the middle of the street. READ MORE: La Presse reported that the officer in question is now being investigated for other alleged instances of inappropriate urination during police operations. The second incident involved an officer who allegedly mocked a suspect who was placed in a “humiliating position” during an arrest. The report stated that other police officers from Station 21 were disturbed after witnessing the alleged acts and lodged complaints with the force. READ MORE: The SPVM confirmed to CTV News that its Professional Standards Division is currently investigating the matter. In a press release issued early Friday evening, the force said the two officers were suspended in “late August, early September.” Neither officer has been found guilty of any misconduct. “Due to our legal obligations regarding the protection of personal data relating to internal staff files, and in order not to compromise the work of the investigators, we are unable to provide any further information,” the force said. “The SPVM takes any allegation against one of its officers seriously and, regardless of the nature of the internal investigation, we are determined to get to the bottom of the matter and take the necessary action.” The release added that the police service acknowledges that the allegations will cause concern and frustration in the community, and that it is committed to “get to the bottom of the matter and take the necessary action.” “Whilst we are unable to confirm the allegations or comment on the investigation, we wish to reiterate that people experiencing homelessness are an integral part of our community and, like everyone else, deserve to be treated with humanity, respect and dignity.” ‘This is humiliation’ Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada took to social media Friday morning to express her shock over the accusations. “The allegations concerning officers from PDQ 21 are very serious and strike at the dignity we all are entitled to,” she wrote. “I salute the police officers who denounced the situation. The investigation must now follow its due course so light can be shed on what happened.” Ericka Alneus, a city councillor in Montreal’s Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough, said she was outraged when she heard about the allegations, adding that it promotes distrust between the public and the police. “It’s so sad and disrespectful that you wake up one morning knowing that those kinds of gestures have been done to someone who was in need,” she told CTV News. “We’re talking about human dignity. We are talking about respect, and someone with that responsibility to ‘protect and serve’ to do such a thing, is outrageous.” Alneus argued it’s not enough to just condemn the officer’s alleged actions – serious sanctions must be taken. “This is humiliation. That’s what this is. This is humiliation,” she said matter-of-factly. For its part, the Montreal police Brotherhood said it could not comment on the allegations, but called them “shocking,” nonetheless. “The Brotherhood condemns any violations to a person’s dignity, as well as any behaviour that is reprehensible and contrary to our values and those of the Montreal police force,” it said. Station 39 These recent revelations come following the disbandment of a 16-member night patrol unit at Station 39 in Montreal North, which was accused of severe misconduct, including racially profiling residents and cutting or ripping out the hair or dreadlocks of people to keep as “trophies.” As a result, at least four officers were suspended, and the rest were dispersed to other stations. READ MORE: Evidence gathered during Montreal police’s initial investigation into the situation at Station 39 has been submitted to the Crown Prosecutor’s Office (DPCP) for analysis. Anyone wishing to report discriminatory behaviour by a member of the Montreal police force is encouraged to contact 514-280-0200.
