The Montreal police service (SPVM) said it has placed seven police officers on “administrative leave” for alleged acts of “allegations of discriminatory and racist behaviour, as well as misconduct.” The SPVM made the announcement Monday in a news release, which said that police Chief Fady Dagher provide more details at a news conference at 4 p.m. The press conference will be livestreamed on ctvnewsmontreal.ca. The announcement comes three days after Dagher said that “consequences” would come following serious allegations against certain officers at stations 39 and 21. In mid-June, the SPVM disbanded a patrol unit at station 39, in Montreal North, after allegations of racist and discriminatory acts on citizens. Dagher confirmed that one of the allegations was about an officer who allegedly cut off the hair of racialized citizens to keep as “trophies.” Two officers were immediately suspended, while three were reassigned to administrative duties. Two more officers were suspended in August. In September, the SPVM suspended a sixth officer and the file was sent to Quebec’s Crown prosecution office to decide if criminal charges are warranted. Last week, one officer at station 39 was reassigned to administrative duties after being accused of interfering with a domestic violence investigation. Radio-Canada reported that the officer allegedly deleted evidence on a smartphone that was provided by a complainant, and that he allegedly knew the alleged perpetrator. The force was also rocked by allegations at station 21 in downtown Montreal, where two officers were accused of misconduct, including one who allegedly urinated on a homeless person while in uniform. The second officer allegedly posed for photos mocking suspects under arrest in humiliating positions. The allegations were first reported by La Presse. That incident is under investigation by the province’s police watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes independantes (BEI). More to come.
