Chief Fady Dagher, shown in June, said his police force took unprecedented steps to disband a 16-member patrol unit and to speak publicly about the allegations even as an investigation was unfolding.Andrej Ivanov/Getty Images
Montreal’s chief of police on Tuesday defended his response to allegations of racist behaviour by officers in the city’s north end, as he faced public skepticism about his efforts to tackle discrimination by the force.
With emotions running high at a public meeting at City Hall, Chief Fady Dagher said his police force took unprecedented steps to disband a 16-member patrol unit in June and to speak publicly about the allegations even as an investigation was unfolding.
“This was a bold move that, in fact, had never been seen before,” he told city officials and members of the public.
He said the “vast majority” of Montreal police officers feel “humiliation, shame and betrayal” in the face of their colleagues’ alleged behaviour.
The meeting came two months after the police force disbanded the unit in the city’s Montréal-Nord borough over the allegations, which included claims that police officers cut the hair of racialized residents to turn into “trophies.”
Sixteen Montreal police officers sanctioned over racism allegations
The allegations rocked the city, prompting protests and demands for police reform. At the time, Chief Dagher said he was “deeply shocked” by the situation.
On Tuesday, the police chief revealed few new details about the allegations or the internal investigation, which began after police employees raised concerns in March about unacceptable actions and behaviour by officers.
The unit was disbanded on June 12, after police received “confirmation of specific findings” from the investigation, Chief Dagher said. He held an unusual late-night press conference the same day to reveal the allegations publicly.
Chief Dagher confirmed Tuesday that three of the 16 officers were suspended, three were reassigned to administrative duties and the other 10 were transferred to other units. He said all 16 police officers have been disarmed, but added that they may not all have done anything wrong.
Montreal police have said many of the officers had just three or four years of service.
Chief Dagher has previously said criminal charges could be brought against some officers. But Anick Cantin, a spokesperson for the Quebec Crown prosecutor’s office, said Tuesday that police have not yet submitted a complete investigation file.
Andrej Ivanov/The Globe and Mail
Demonstrators march outside of a Montreal police station on June 15 in response to the allegations of racist behaviour.Andrej Ivanov/The Globe and Mail
A large number of residents and representatives of community groups showed up at Tuesday’s meeting to question Chief Dagher and give voice to their anger and indignation.
Joel DeBellefeuille, founder and executive director of the Red Coalition, an advocacy group, said there have been concerns about racial profiling and problematic interactions with police in Montréal-Nord for at least 17 years.
In 2008, a Montreal police officer shot and killed an 18-year-old Honduran immigrant, Fredy Villanueva, in Montréal-Nord, and his death still looms large in the community.
“In my humble opinion, you cannot expect a different result if you continue beating the same horse,” Mr. DeBellefeuille said.
“What will produce a different result now when [the force has] been unable to do so for the last 17 years?”
Chief Dagher said police have worked to build bridges with the residents of Montréal-Nord in recent years. “We can look back and see the things that haven’t changed, but we can also look back and see, on the contrary, that many things have improved,” he said.
He also defended his record on fighting discrimination, which he has vowed to tackle since being sworn in as police chief in January, 2023.
“Changing a culture takes courage and patience,” he said. “It is long and difficult.”
Editorial: Montreal police must confront racism on the force
There have been calls for the launch of a public inquiry into the racism allegations since they were made public, and some of the residents present on Tuesday repeated that demand. But Daniel Da Cunha, chief inspector in the integrity division of the Montreal police, said launching a public inquiry now could delay concrete changes.
“It is essential to allow the SPVM’s criminal investigation to continue,” he said.
Quebec Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière has appointed an independent observer to monitor the internal investigation.
He has also said that, depending on the findings, the investigation could be transferred to another police force or to Quebec’s police watchdog. He has not ruled out the possibility of a public inquiry.
Quebec’s police ethics commissioner has also launched an investigation.
The force says it has held more than 250 internal meetings and more than 100 outreach activities with communities since June, and says a crisis response team was established quickly. Chief Dagher said he would unveil a set of measures in response to the allegations this fall.
But the allegations have provoked calls for more tangible results.
Last week, the Regroupement des intervenants et intervenantes d’origine haïtienne, a social-justice group based in Montréal-Nord, demanded serious sanctions for officers found guilty of racist acts, including dismissal.
It also called for an independent mechanism for reporting racial profiling and discrimination and for the Montréal-Nord police station to be placed under civilian command.
“This situation goes beyond the mere issue of individual disciplinary measures,” the group said in a news release. “It raises fundamental questions regarding public trust, institutional accountability, and the fight against racial profiling and all forms of discrimination.”