Public discussion about Montreal police racism allegations postponed

Montreal police chief Fady Dagher speaks in Montreal on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

A public discussion that was scheduled for next week to talk about allegations of racism within the Montreal North police station is being postponed.

The public forum, led by Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher, was set to be held on July 8 so that he could talk directly with residents following a bombshell investigation into a patrol unit at police station 39.

Dagher revealed last month that 16 officers have been disbanded from the unit and two have been suspended after allegations of racist and discriminatory acts against civilians.

On Friday, the City of Montreal’s Public Safety Commission announced that the talk will now take place on Aug. 11 at 6 p.m.

“Given that the public funeral for Mohamed Lamine Benredouane—a police officer who died in the line of duty during the June 22 shooting—will be held on July 7, and out of respect for his memory, his loved ones, and the entire police community, the Commission has approved the request from the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) to postpone the event,” the city said in a news release.

The event will take place at the Salle des Armoiries in City Hall at 275 Notre-Dame St. East. The meeting will also be streamed live on the commission’s website.

The racism allegations came to light during a late-night SPVM news conference on June 12. According to media reports, some of the officers at Station 39 in Montreal North allegedly cut off the dreadlocks of racialized community members and kept them as “trophies.”

Since then, a protest was held in the streets of Montreal North amid calls for an independent public inquiry into the racism allegations, but so far one has not been announced.

Quebec Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière — a former SPVM officer — has only appointed an independent observer to oversee the Montreal police’s investigation into Station 39.

• READ MORE: ‘Enough is enough’: Montreal residents protest after police racism allegations

Lafrenière has said that the observer should share his or her findings with Montreal’s Public Safety Commission. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada agreed, but went a step further and called for an independent inquiry as critics say it’s inappropriate for the SPVM to investigate itself.

“I am at a loss for words regarding the information transmitted by (Montreal police) Friday night,” the mayor told reporters on June 15. “No person in the Black or Arab community should have to feel the way they do today.”

Premier Christine Fréchette told Radio-Canada that she isn’t ruling out a public inquiry but wants more information before deciding on the next steps.