Montreal police have taken action by suspending two officers from Station 21 in downtown Montreal after reports emerged of one officer allegedly urinating on a homeless individual during duty hours. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has initiated an internal investigation into the matter, as confirmed in a statement to CBC News.
The incident, detailed in a report by La Presse, led to colleagues expressing disgust and subsequently reporting the behavior to higher authorities. The SPVM, while acknowledging the investigation, refrained from disclosing further information due to privacy regulations under provincial law.
In response, the police department emphasized its commitment to thoroughly investigating any allegations against its members, regardless of the circumstances, and taking necessary actions. Notably, another officer from the same station had been recently suspended in a separate case involving alleged inappropriate conduct during an arrest.
Annie Savage, the executive director of the advocacy group RAPSIM (Réseau d’aide aux personnes seules et itinérantes de Montréal), expressed shock at the allegations but highlighted the deteriorating relationship between law enforcement and homeless individuals amidst the city’s growing homelessness crisis. Savage stressed that the incident should not be viewed in isolation, urging the police to address systemic issues.
A previous joint report by RAPSIM and Clinique Droits Devant had revealed tensions between unhoused Montrealers and law enforcement, indicating that many homeless individuals felt unfairly targeted by authorities. The study documented instances of mistreatment, lack of trust in emergency services, and increased surveillance in public spaces, including the city’s transit network.
These recent events coincide with the upcoming “La Nuit des sans-abri,” an annual event in Quebec aimed at raising awareness about homelessness.