During an interview on CBC’s Daybreak on Tuesday morning, Montreal’s police Chief Fady Dagher described the simultaneous dismissal of seven officers from the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) as “historic,” noting it was an unprecedented event for the city.
On Monday, Dagher announced that five officers from Station 39 and two from Station 21 had been administratively dismissed due to allegations of racist and discriminatory behavior, along with other derogatory actions.
On Tuesday, he emphasized the significance of accountability, not only to the public but also to the officers still serving in the force.
“It’s essential that we preserve the positive aspects of police culture, as there has been remarkable work carried out by many officers,” he stated.
Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher indicated that efforts are underway to eliminate the 1% of officers who intentionally damage the reputation of the police force. (CBC)
He clarified that the officers who were dismissed will not receive severance pay and must disclose their termination due to an investigation if they apply to another police agency.
Additional steps regarding the seven officers may be taken pending the outcome of further investigations, including potential criminal charges.
Protesters kneel outside Station 39 in Montréal-Nord as they voice concerns over allegations of racist behavior involving SPVM officers under scrutiny. (Paula Dayan-Perez/CBC)
The SPVM has submitted a case to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) for review concerning the allegations of discriminatory and racist conduct by officers at Station 39.
“We have been thoroughly investigating these types of allegations,” Dagher remarked. “After six to seven months, we didn’t uncover any additional instances.”
However, it was reported last week that Quebec’s Crown is looking into another incident involving a Station 39 officer who allegedly deleted evidence from a victim’s phone in a domestic violence case from 2025, according to sources from Radio-Canada.
When an officer brought the deletion to the attention of her superiors, she claims it was disregarded.
Dagher mentioned that a new action plan is being developed to restore community trust, which will include consultations, particularly with the residents served by Station 39, where most of the dismissed officers were stationed.
This plan is anticipated to be completed by the end of December and will detail updates to the force’s recruitment, training, and promotion protocols.
Dagher pointed out that despite the series of allegations, the latest annual assessment of the SPVM was the most favorable in the past 15 years.
However, Alain Babineau, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and now director of racial profiling and public safety at the Red Coalition, expressed that actions concerning the seven dismissed officers could have been taken sooner.
Citizens of Montreal protest police misconduct on October 24. (Kwabena Oduro/CBC)
“There have been proposals over the past two decades. Every five years, the SPVM has devised a strategy to combat racism and discrimination,” he noted. “People are weary of these plans.”
Babineau suggested that instead of commending police officers for fulfilling their responsibilities, Dagher should focus on reassuring the communities his officers engage with.
“This isn’t just about seven rogue officers,” Babineau asserted. “Unless you dismantle the system that allowed these individuals to engage in such criminal behavior, true satisfaction cannot be achieved.”