Residents called for an independent public investigation into allegations of racism and misconduct involving Montreal police officers Tuesday, as Chief Fady Dagher defended his force’s handling of a scandal that led to the dismantling of a 16-member patrol unit.
Police dismantled the Montréal-Nord unit in June after allegations of racist and abusive conduct by some officers, including claims that officers cut the hair of racialized citizens and kept it as trophies. Three officers have been suspended, while an internal police investigation remains underway.
Dozens of residents questioned Dagher and other police officials during a public meeting at city hall, marking the first time citizens could directly question Montreal police as part of a public consultation by the city’s public security commission.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada did not attend the meeting. Jim Beis, the city executive committee member responsible for public security, represented the administration and told residents their anger and concerns were legitimate.
Much of the discussion centred on how the allegations should be investigated and whether Montreal police should remain in charge of the process.
Montreal police defended their decision to keep the investigation in-house, arguing that transferring it to another organization could duplicate work previously done and delay the process.
The force said it did not oppose a broader commission of inquiry into racism in Quebec police forces, but argued that retaining responsibility for the Montréal-Nord investigation allowed it to act more quickly.
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Quebec Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière has appointed an independent observer to monitor the investigations and assess the quality of the work being done.
Dagher provided a detailed chronology of the police response, saying the force first learned in March of alleged racist behaviour involving officers at the station through internal reports and immediately launched an investigation.
He said police had not received complaints from citizens about the alleged conduct that ultimately led to the dismantling of the unit.
On June 12, all 16 members of the patrol unit were disarmed, two officers were initially suspended, three were assigned to administrative duties and the remaining members were transferred elsewhere. A third officer was suspended June 18.
Dagher stressed that dismantling the unit did not mean all 16 officers were accused of misconduct.
“(Dismantling the unit) was a strong gesture, one that had never been seen before,” he said.
Dagher confirmed two files involving three officers have been sent to Quebec’s prosecution service.
Prosecution service spokesperson Anick Cantin has said Montreal police had not submitted a request to initiate criminal proceedings against officers.
Tuesday’s questions extended beyond the investigation, with residents challenging Dagher over racial profiling and the police’s increased presence in Montréal-Nord.
Police say they have deployed more officers and community-relations personnel in the neighbourhood and increased outreach to residents, businesses and local organizations in an effort to rebuild trust. A new team was also deployed July 13 to replace the dismantled patrol unit.
Not all residents welcomed the increased presence.
“We want less police presence, less surveillance in Montréal-Nord,” said Rana resident Al Rabi.
Other residents argued the allegations reflected problems they had raised for years.
Anastasia Marcellin, who said she has raised concerns about abuses at the Montréal-Nord station since 2009, questioned why the alleged conduct was being treated as isolated incidents.
“How many complaints will it take before (Montreal police) stops considering these acts ‘isolated incidents’?” she asked.
Residents also questioned whether the allegations exposed shortcomings in the way Montreal police recruit officers.
Dagher said there may have been “blind spots” and that the force would examine whether changes are needed to psychological evaluations and other screening measures.
Dagher said changing the culture of the police force will take time.
“A change in culture doesn’t happen through spectacular announcements,” he said. “It happens through dozens and dozens of actions, all moving in the same direction.”
Dagher said he warned three years ago that change would be “long and difficult,” while acknowledging residents’ frustration that problems within the force should have been addressed years ago.
“I think so, too, but I’m not a magician. I can’t go back in time,” he said.
Dagher said Montreal police are working with community organizations to develop additional measures in response to the controversy, which he expects to present by this fall.
He said lasting change cannot depend on the police chief alone.
“A change in culture isn’t a one-man show, especially not mine,” he said.
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