Longueuil mayor asking for investigation into police after teen’s death

Longueuil Mayor Catherine Fournier is calling for an investigation into the Longueuil police service’s (SPAL) handling of Nooran Rezayi’s case after police shot the 15-year-old dead.

In a press release, Fournier said she asked Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière to order an investigation after receiving “very serious” information on Nov. 19 and 26.

The information was contained in correspondence sent by Brigitte Bishop, director of Quebec’s independent police watchdog (BEI), to SPAL police chief Patrick Bélanger.

According to a news release, the documents outline several alleged breaches of the SPAL’s legal and regulatory obligations following the fatal shooting on Sept. 21.

They indicate that police took more than 90 minutes after the shooting before informing the watchdog what happened and that officers continued to question witnesses at the scene, contrary to the rules they were supposed to follow.

“Trust in our institutions is at the heart of my political commitment. In September, I called for transparency from the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes,” Fournier said.

“That same transparency must apply to the SPAL. We need clarity on the sequence of events to preserve the organization’s credibility and identify the source of any shortcomings, if applicable.”

Fournier said that, as soon as she became aware of the information, she began a thorough validation process — including a legal review — to determine what options were available to the City of Longueuil.

In press release, the SPAL said Bélanger was the one who informed the City of Longueuil of alleged breaches.

Additionally, the force said it had taken note of the decision and added that it committed from the outset to fully cooperate with the BEI.

“Because the city cannot interfere in police operations for legal reasons, only one clear option exists in the law: asking the public security minister to initiate steps to launch an inquiry into the SPAL under section 279 of the Police Act. I formally made that request this morning,” she said.

According to the act, the chief of the police force involved in such an incident “must inform the Bureau (BEI) without delay.”

Per the watchdog’s own information, the shooting took place about 2:58 p.m. and the agency started its own probe at 4:54 p.m.

Although the mayor said she is not calling into question the integrity of the SPAL’s leadership team and the sense of duty shown by its officers, she stressed that the city’s organizations must be held accountable.

The documents in question were posted online with the press release on the city’s website.

In a post on social media, Lafrenière said his office will analyze the mayor’s request for an investigation. He added that, like the mayor, he hopes to shed light on the circumstances leading to the BEI’s investigation.

The lawyers for the Rezayi family issued a statement saying they welcome the mayor’s request, adding that they are deeply shocked.

“We see it as a clear attempt by the SPAL to interfere with the BEI’s investigation in order to protect its colleagues, in blatant violation of the law and fundamental principles of justice.”

The family filed a $2.2-million lawsuit against the City of Longueuil and a police officer, alleging racial profiling and unjustified use of force.

Video presented at a news conference by the family and their lawyers show Rezayi was shot within 10 seconds of police parking their police cruiser on the scene.

“They killed my child for nothing,” Fahima Rezayi, the boy’s mother, told reporters.

“Why was this officer in such a hurry to fire two bullets at Nooran without even taking the time to think? He didn’t even give him five seconds to lie down.”

The family has said that police waited more than five hours to tell them about the shooting.

With files from the Canadian Press.