Montreal police officers breached code of ethics: interfer dispute between Black mother and dentisted in civil

The Police Ethics Tribunal has upheld a Black single mother’s complaint against two Montreal Police officers for undue interference in a civil dispute between her and her dentist.

The judgement also found abuse of authority, when one officer threatened the mother with arrest over a disagreement over dental fees.

The incident took place in February 2019 when Leveesa Lessey had a dispute with a dentist in the Centre-Sud district of Montreal over dental fees for her 3-year-old child.

A statement from the Center for research on race relations (CRARR), who helped the woman file the complaint, states that what started as a misunderstanding over the nature of dental service and the $198 fees led the dentist calling the police on the mother for “theft of services.”

One of two SPVM officers who arrived at the dental office threatened to arrest her and bring her before a judge if she did not pay the full amount.

“The officers there told me that if I don’t pay, yes, I would be taken to jail,” she said.

Lessey filed a complaint with the Police Ethics Commissioner, against both officers for having interfered in a private civil dispute, and for abuse of authority by intimidating her into settling a private dispute.

“My children and I feel very vindicated by this decision. Imagine being threatened with arrest and jail because of a misunderstanding and dispute over dental fees, and not being heard or believed by the police: it’s not only intimidation, but also humiliation,” Lessey stated at press conference in Montreal Friday morning.

#WATCH: “I felt really really down,” says Leveesa Lessey, after two Montreal Police officers interfered in a civil dispute between her and her dentist. The Police Ethics Tribunal found they abused their authority.

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In a decision released last month and received last week, the Police Ethics Committee ruled that both officers violated different articles of the Code of Ethics of Quebec Police Officers.

The officer who made the threats abused their authority, and both officers did not operate impartially or ensure the administration of justice.

“What’s important here is the message from the Police Ethics Tribunal that officers should not get involved in private civil dispute or expression, whereas no danger to self for others involved as know disturbing the peace involved,” CRARR Executive Director Fo Niemi stated. “And they should have abstained from, among other things, making any kind of threats.”

Lessey believes that being a Black and a low-income single mother influenced the officers’ actions, although this aspect was not addressed by the Police Ethics Committee.

“I think it’s the stereotype of the welfare queen at play, but it’s hard to prove it,” she said.

Lessey says she remained calm throughout the 45 minute ordeal with police, though she felt she was the target of discrimination both by the dentist and the officers.

“It was more their actions that pretty much led me to believe because I am a young black mother on social assistance led them to take sides and not really listen to what I had to say.”

“Law enforcement cannot be biased on the basis of race, gender and class, and this decision is another reminder of police officers’ duty not to take side in a civil dispute and go beyond their authority, especially when there is no danger to peace and public safety,” added Niemi.

By June or July, sanctions will be handed down to the two officers, leaving the SPVM with the option to appeal.

CityNews contacted the SPVM  on Friday and they say they can’t respond to our request for comment on this ruling, adding that they need time to dig into the case to formulate a better response. But said they would work to get back to us when they could.

Now, Lessey hopes to be a voice for others dealing with the same thing.

“A lot of times you hear of these cases, most single moms, they feel that they can’t go forward with anything with the police, so I just want them to know that it is possible,” she said.