Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher says three officers have been suspended since a 16-member patrol unit at a station in the northern part of the city was dismantled over allegations of misconduct and racism. Police announced in June that they had dismantled the unit at the Montreal North station, but few details about the investigation have been made public since. Dagher says police first learned in March of alleged racist behaviour involving officers at the station through internal reports and immediately launched an investigation. He says that on June 12, all 16 officers were disarmed, two initially suspended, three assigned to administrative duties and the remaining members transferred elsewhere. Dagher says a third officer was suspended on June 18. He stresses that the decision to dismantle the unit does not mean all 16 officers are accused of misconduct and that the internal investigation is ongoing. Dagher also says the unit was one of seven groups working rotating shifts at the station. Cédric Couture, the Montreal police deputy director responsible for neighbourhood policing, says a new team was deployed in the community on July 13 to replace the dismantled unit. The allegations have renewed long-standing concerns about racism and racial profiling in Montreal North and prompted calls from residents for more information about the investigation. Prosecutor’s spokesperson Anick Cantin says police have not submitted a request to initiate criminal proceedings against officers concerned by the events mentioned during the June news conference. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2026.
