Experts skeptical about Montrealers being consulted in hiring of next police chief
Posted April 20, 2022 3:08 pm.
Montrealers will be able to take part in public consultations to help hire the city’s next police chief.
While some experts applaud the move, they are skeptical.
For Ted Rutland, a Concordia University professor whose research focuses policing in Canada, only time will tell if citizens will actually get to voice their opinion.
“It remains to be seen from me whether this will actually result in the public having more of a say or whether it’ll just be an exercise that confirms a decision made by somebody else,” said Rutland.
“On a surface I think this is a really good thing that we’re going to have public consultation before we hire a new police chief. This is one of the recommendations that was made by the OCPM (Office de consultation publique de Montréal) during the consultation on systemic racism.”
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Joel DeBellefeuille, the founder of Red Coalition – an organization dedicated to end systemic racism in Canada – believes Montrealers should approach the process with some skepticism.
“Is it strictly for a photo op, essentially? Or is it really to get in, roll up their sleeves and actually listen to the community?” said DeBellefeuille. “I think some people will be hesitant to believe that it is for the good reasons, which hopefully they are. It will definitely open up the dialogue regardless.”
The Montreal police has been heavily scrutinized by community groups and activists in recent years, calling out systemic racism and demanding the defunding of its $724 million budget.
“We’ve seen that there’s a huge support across North America for a different model of public security where the police continue to play a role,” said Rutland. “But we have other kinds of services, including civilian services, responding to various kinds of police or 911 calls. And so a civilian response to things like mental health crises, homelessness, drug overdoses, etc.”
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DeBellefeuille says public consultations may reveal more support for a different policing model.
Some say consulting the public’s opinion could possibly open discussion to a different approach like considering candidates outside the SPVM.
