Montreal community groups back police chief after seven officers fired, call for lasting reform

“It’s not enough, it’s a start,” said Kris Bennett of Barbados House Montreal, as community organizations back SPVM Chief Fady Dagher following after seven officer fired. They are calling for lasting reform. Erin Seize reports.

By Jessica Barile and Erin Seize

Posted November 4, 2026 11:25 am.

More than a dozen Montreal community organizations are backing police Chief Fady Dagher following the dismissal of seven officers over allegations of racism and misconduct, but say the firings are only the beginning of the changes needed to rebuild public trust.

Representatives gathered at Union United Church on Wednesday to support Dagher’s efforts to change the culture within the Montreal police service (SPVM), while calling for greater accountability, transparency and investment in community programs.

“As a father of a young Black man, I like to make him feel comfortable to be able to approach police if there’s a problem,” said Kris Bennett, vice-president of Barbados House Montreal.

“This is not a process that’s going to be easy. It’s not a process that’s going to be quick. But it has to be shown that it’s a process that we’re going to follow through on.”

*Kris Bennett speaking to reporters at Union United Church on Nov. 4, 2026. (CityNews)*

Seven SPVM officers were fired Monday, including five from Station 39 in Montreal North and two from Station 21 downtown, following allegations of racist and discriminatory conduct.

Criminal charges have not been announced.

Community leaders welcome action, demand accountability

Sharon Nelson, president of the Jamaica Association of Montreal, described the dismissals as a significant development for communities that have long raised concerns about police misconduct.

“This, I think, is one of the most historic results that we’ve seen thus far, where members of the community have been heard, allegations have been taken seriously and actions have been taken,” Nelson said.

Shauna Joyce, executive director of Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre, welcomed Dagher’s decision while cautioning that lasting change cannot depend on one person.

“We’re excited that the chief of police is putting his money where his mouth is, and I think it’s important to acknowledge that, but it can’t reside or rest on one person,” Joyce said.

She also emphasized the importance of police officers reporting misconduct by their colleagues, saying speaking up can help bring about change.

Calls for greater investment in Montreal North

For Roger Petit-Frère, CEO of Centre Jean-Paul Lemay, the allegations are particularly troubling.

Petit-Frère has worked in Montreal-North for more than two decades and says he has heard firsthand accounts from residents, including members of Black and Arab communities, describing painful encounters with police.

“When people were talking about hair being pulled out, I hear these stories, I experience them through the people who tell me about their pain,” he said.

Roger Petit-Frère *speaking to reporters at Union United Church on Nov. 4, 2026. (CityNews)*

Petit-Frère said he was pleased to learn that seven officers had been fired, including five from Station 39, but believes the dismissals alone will not resolve longstanding problems.

He is calling for what he describes as a Marshall Plan for Montréal-Nord — a major, long-term commitment to housing, education, employment and social development.

Fo Niemi, executive director of the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR), said people reporting police misconduct must be taken seriously and given clear information about how to file complaints, including through the police ethics system.

“We have to look at how to improve the supervision by the sergeants and other managers at the local station,” Niemi said.

“How come these things were not being addressed by the superiors at the local district station?”

Niemi said community organizations also need more funding for prevention programs, particularly those supporting young people, families and employment opportunities.

He called on municipal, provincial and federal governments to invest more resources in those efforts.

Community groups want criminal accountability

The organizations are calling for allegations of police misconduct to be investigated objectively and transparently, with appropriate disciplinary action where warranted.

Joan Lee, president of the West Island Black Community Association, welcomed Dagher’s decision but said she also wants to see whether criminal charges will follow.

We have to give a strong case […] and have those officers pay for their crimes,” said Lee.

The decision on whether to lay criminal charges rests with Quebec’s Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP).

CityNews contacted Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada’s office for a response to the groups’ calls for greater investment in community prevention programs, but the mayor declined to comment.

The SPVM was also contacted but had not responded by publication time.

Dagher has said a new action plan developed with community input is expected later this year.

The 12 organizations supporting the statement are: