Montreal North community reacts after 7 SPVM police officers fired

The Montreal North community is reacting after SPVM police Chief Fady Dagher announced on Monday that seven Montreal police officers were fired in connection to allegations of discriminatory and racist behaviour, as well as misconduct.

Two of the officers worked at Station 21 in downtown Montreal. An officer from the station reportedly urinated on at least one homeless person — though Dagher has said those claims do not match information in the force’s internal investigation — while another faces allegations of racism.

The other five officers are linked to Station 39 in Montreal North, where a 16-member patrol unit was disbanded in June following allegations that officers cut locks of hair from racialized citizens to keep as trophies.

“There were 16 police officers that was implicated into this thing. If I’m with someone that commits a crime, I’m accomplice in those accusations. So what about the other rest of the gang? You know, they need to get punished also. So I feel like it’s not enough,” said Samuel Bunche, a Montreal North resident.

Sheilla Fortuné, the co-spokesperson for Regroupement des Intervenants et Intervenantes d’Origine Haïtiennes de Montréal-Nord (RIIOH), said her group is “relieved.”

“We are happy to hear this news, but on the other hand, there is still work to be done,” she said.

“We want to address the very structure of the SPVM, because beyond the individuals, there is a whole organizational culture to review, because the police director himself mentioned it, there is a culture of silence to work on.”

“We are really happy that finally the police have taken action and fired them, because we held a protest about this a long time ago during the summer,” added Hakeem Shawn, a Montreal North resident.

Nancy, another Montreal North resident, said: “It’s as if we’re seeing a message now to the police that they can’t do whatever they want whenever they want.”

Mensah Angelo Amevo, a Montreal North resident, said, “I commend the Montreal police chief for the work being done there and I hope that other police officers and other people will follow the laws properly.”

Alain Babineau, the director of racial profiling & public safety for the Red Coalition, said, “Mr. Dagher inherited a cancer and now they have to try and cure it. “Now he has to turn his attention to supervisors and managers. And I would argue some of the folks around him that were there for decades and allow this thing to fester.”

Christine Black, the Montreal North borough mayor, said the firings are “a significant step.”

“Racist and discriminatory behavior cannot be tolerated,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “I commend the courage of the officers who spoke out against these actions, as well as the efforts of the SPVM to evolve its practices. Trust is rebuilt through concrete actions, transparency, and lasting change.

“We will keep collaborating with the SPVM to restore the trust of the people of Montreal North for the long term — grounded in respect, dignity, and equity.”

Police chief Dagher did confirm on Monday that they are still waiting to see if there will be criminal charges against the officers from stations 21 and 39 who were fired.

“I hope they get charged with all these allegations, all these accusations. They need to be charged. And when I’m going to see that, now I’m going to believe things are moving,” said Bunche. 

Quebec’s Crown prosecutor, the DPCP, confirmed to CityNews “the SPVM has submitted an investigation file for review and authorization of charges, in connection with allegations of discriminatory and racist acts involving police officers from Neighbourhood Station 39.

“As a prosecutor — as is the case for all files submitted by various police services, including those involving independent investigations — the role of the DPCP is to rigorously analyze the evidence submitted once an investigation is complete, in order to decide whether or not to initiate a prosecution.”