Head of Surete du Quebec temporarily suspended; criminal investigation pending

SQ chief under investigation Martin Prud’homme was temporarily relieved of his duties Wednesday as the BEI looks into unspecified allegations.

The man who was brought in to clean up corruption in the SQ is now, himself, no longer with the provincial police force after just a year on the job.

Martin Prud'homme, Director-General of the Surete du Quebec, has been temporarily relieved of his duties.

The one-time interim head of the Montreal Police, Prud'homme was suspended Wednesday in the wake of what Deputy Premier Genevieve Guilbault calls an "allegation relating to a criminal matter."

Guilbault also announced that Mario Bouchard will take over on an interim basis.

At Wednesday's press conference, Guilbault insisted that these are criminal allegations, not accusations.

Prud'homme has not been arrested or charged in any criminal matter, she explained, but did not disclose any further details about the investigation or infraction.

"Of course it's a delicate, complex situation," Guilbault said. "We especially want to avoid harming the investigation."

Sources told CTV Montreal's Stephane Giroux that Prud'homme made some enemies within the SQ's hierarchy and police force in 2017.

Prud'homme took up his duties at the Surete du Quebec in 2018, after briefly leading a clean-up of the SPVM.

While with the SPVM, he removed several high-level administrators.

Still, insiders contacted by CTV Montreal were shocked and surprised by Prud'homme's removal.

The Bureau des Enquetes Independantes confirmed via a statement that they are launching a criminal investigation at the Public Security Minister's request.