Racism allegations at SPVM: Montreal police chief addresses staff, expected to provide update Tuesday

Residents in a multicultural neighbourhood in Montreal may not be the only ones looking for answers about a scandal at their police station.

The police have shared little public information about the investigation since June 12, when Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher announced police had disbanded a 16-member patrol unit in Montréal-Nord over serious allegations of racism, discrimination and misconduct.

While news reporters and citizens have pressed the police for answers about what transpired, Dagher has told employees he also heard requests from them for more information about the situation and the decisions made by management.

He addressed employees in a video message recorded on June 19, explaining he was responding to feedback from people who said there was a lot of information circulating about the investigation that was making it difficult to clearly understand what was happening.

Police have declined to confirm some of the new information he shared in the internal message, obtained by The Canadian Press through an access to information request.

Dagher is expected to provide an update on Tuesday evening as he addresses city officials and takes questions from members of the public at a meeting.

Here are five things to know about what was in the video message Dagher sent staff on June 19:

1- Dagher said three police officers have been suspended and that allegations were submitted to the public prosecutor for preliminary review. Another three officers were reassigned to administrative duties while 10 officers were transferred to other units within the police department.

2- Dagher praised the “courage” of the officers who came forward with allegations against their colleagues. “They have done a great service to (Montreal police) and will help us a great deal as we navigate the challenges ahead.”

3- The police chief sought to reassure officers who are worried the allegations would reflect poorly on the police force as a whole and undermine their work. “I want to reaffirm my full support and confidence in you, because I know that the vast majority of you are doing exemplary work. You have your hearts in the right place and uphold sound values. I will never accept anyone saying that the majority of my police officers are racist,” he said.

4- Dagher addressed racialized members of the force, saying he understands the allegations may strike an emotional chord. “For many racialized people, the challenge is not just about having their skills or contributions recognized. It’s also about being seen for who they truly are. Too often, they are assigned an identity before they even have the chance to define themselves,” he said. “They are viewed through the lens of assumptions or expectations that do not necessarily reflect their own stories.”

5- Police have a hotline for whistleblowers and Dagher encouraged staff to report any wrongdoing or inappropriate behaviour, saying they take steps to protect the confidentiality of those who come forward. “This is a moral duty (to report wrongdoing), but it is also an obligation under the Police Act,” he said.

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Several stakeholders and critics have shared with CityNews what they expect to hear from Dagher on Tuesday — and what they want to hear.

“He has to explain what has been going on, what happened in June, what his department has been doing, what he has been doing, and what he will do in terms of a correction, in terms of prevention, and in terms of rebuilding the trust and working with the community,” said Fo Niemi, the executive director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR).

“There’s a lot of things that we would love to see happen with Station 39, but I think it’s more of a willingness by the institution,” said Joel DeBellefeuille, the founder and executive director of the Red Coalition. “So, the SPVM as a whole has to recognize and realize that the issue is not individual officers. The issue is that there is an institutional problem.

“We need for them to heed and realize that this is a major issue and they really need to get serious about it and show the public that they mean business for change as opposed to just another document that’s going to gather dust on the shelf.”

Added Ted Rutland, a professor at Concordia University: “I would expect that the charges will be levied in this case because a police department is saying basically, ‘we believe that criminal infractions have occurred, here’s the evidence,’ and they’re saying that to prosecutors with whom they work every day. And so, they’re very well could be this very rare thing in Montreal or any city where two officers may indeed face criminal charges for their conduct against Montreal citizens.”

The public meeting with Dagher will take place at Montreal’s city hall from 6-9 p.m. and participants can ask questions to Dagher in person or remotely by submitting a question through an online form. The meeting will also be broadcast live on YouTube.

“I want to know what’s going on with them, are they being charged for criminal activities or stuff? This is what I’m asking myself the most, right,” said Montreal North resident Samuel Bunche.

“I don’t know what could they do to build back the trust because we already have so many trauma.

“I feel like when he’s talking to us, I feel like he shows good intention, but do we believe it? That’s another thing.”

–With files from Gareth Madoc-Jones