Seven Montreal police officers fired for racist and discriminatory conduct
Montreal police chief Fady Dagher has announced the dismissal of seven officers linked to racist and discriminatory behaviour at Stations 21 and 39.
Seven officers dismissed amid Montreal police racism scandal
Montreal police chief Fady Dagher announced Monday the administrative dismissal of seven officers tied to allegations of racist, discriminatory and derogatory conduct, ici.radio-canada.ca reports.
"We will not accept acts that tarnish the uniform," Dagher said at an afternoon news conference, where he also spoke about efforts to shift the force's internal culture and break what he described as a cycle of silence.
Five of the seven dismissals stem from Station 39 in Montréal-Nord, which has been at the centre of a major racism scandal since June. The remaining two officers were fired from Station 21, which serves parts of downtown Montreal.
Dagher first brought the Station 39 allegations to light earlier this year, disclosing that 16 officers were under investigation for racist and hateful acts allegedly committed against Black and Arab people during police stops. Additional suspensions followed as the internal disciplinary investigation advanced over subsequent weeks and months.
Station 21 has faced separate scrutiny. Last month, Quebec's domestic security minister ordered two independent investigations into an officer from that station who allegedly urinated on homeless people while in uniform. A second Station 21 officer was also suspended over alleged acts of humiliation directed at racialized people, according to Radio-Canada.
Dagher acknowledged the damage done to public confidence. "I am aware that the bond of trust has been largely weakened by the cases we have decided to expose ourselves," he said, adding that he remains convinced the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) can rebuild it "throughout our humility, and our willingness to improve day by day."
He described gathering evidence as a lengthy and sometimes frustrating process, but stressed that the force operates under the rule of law. Steps are being taken, he said, to prevent similar behaviour from recurring.
Investigations into the broader allegations are continuing, and Dagher said further announcements can be expected in the coming weeks as the SPVM works toward institutional change. Last week, Dagher had signalled that additional news related to the Station 39 patrol unit — originally a 16-member group — would emerge in November.
Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)