SPVM explains why it took a day to dismantle unit from station 39
Posted October 29, 2026 8:53 am.
The police team from precinct 39 in Montreal North, which was disbanded last summer due to racist behaviour and actions, remained on duty for almost a full day after investigators gathered enough evidence to follow up on the allegations.
The dismantling of this team of 16 police officers was announced by the director of the Montreal Police Service (SPVM), Fady Dagher, during a press conference held late one Friday evening in mid-June.
During this press conference, Dagher assured that the SPVM was acting as quickly as possible to protect the population.
However, when confronted with internal documents showing that investigators had reached the threshold justifying decisive management measures on June 11, the day before the dismantling, the SPVM confirmed that it had taken a day to prepare its intervention.
The police force explained that the officers involved in this case were on duty from 9 p.m. on June 11 until approximately 6:30 a.m. the following morning. During this period, they were responsible for responding to emergency calls.
The SPVM finally dismantled this unit between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on June 12.
In an email to The Canadian Press, the SPVM explained that several logistical challenges had to be resolved before it could proceed with the dismantling. In particular, it had to ensure it could replace the entire team to avoid disrupting services to the public.
The SPVM refused to say whether any of the 16 police officers in question had direct contact with the public between June 11 and 12.
Questions and concerns
These internal documents were part of an information package prepared for Dagher ahead of his appearance before municipal officials in August. The Canadian Press obtained them through access to information laws.
Ericka Alneus, interim leader of Projet Montréal, the party that forms the opposition at City Hall, believes that Dagher must be more transparent about what happened, in a context where public trust in the police is already fragile.
In his opinion, this new information raises “questions and concerns”.
This unit was operating in Montreal North, a borough where tensions between residents and the police have long existed, particularly due to allegations of police brutality.
Montreal Police launched its investigation into this team in March after receiving internal complaints of alleged racism and professional misconduct. These complaints included reports that officers had allegedly cut the hair of racialized citizens to make “trophies.”
All 16 members of the unit were relieved of their usual duties: two were suspended immediately, three were assigned to administrative tasks, and eleven were reassigned. By August, the number of suspended officers had risen to four.
The SPVM has forwarded evidence concerning four officers to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, who has not yet announced whether charges will be laid.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
