Earlier this week, an anti-racism organization filed a complaint with Quebec’s police ethics commissioner.
The Red Coalition asked the commissioner to address allegations of police misconduct and ethical violations connected to police station 39 in Montreal North after recent accusations of racism against SPVM officers there.
On Wednesday, the Red Coalition received confirmation from the office of the police ethics commissioner that they have opened a file for their complaint.
“This is a significant moment, of course in, I would say, the history of Quebec with regards to racial profiling and discrimination,” said Joel DeBellefeuille, the Red Coalition’s founder and executive director.
“We’re hoping really for them to just get in there and find what this issue is, what’s the constant repetition of racism, racial profiling, discrimination between law enforcement and racialized individuals.”
In a statement to CityNews, the office of the police ethics commissioner said it was unable to confirm the complaint file until the commissioner has decided to summon an officer to the administrative tribunal of police ethics.
Meanwhile the SPVM suggested it was aware of the Red Coalition’s file that has been circulating publicly but was “not in a position” to confirm if the police ethics commissioner is or will be investigating.
The SPVM is conducting its own internal investigation.
“Given the active nature of this process, the SPVM will not be providing further comment in order to protect the ongoing investigation and all future proceedings,” the police force told CityNews in a brief written response.
Background:
Late last week, the SPVM revealed two officers from Station 39 have been suspended following allegations of racism in Montreal North. These officers could face criminal charges.
Fourteen other officers have been transferred or reassigned to duties that don’t require contact with the public.
Several media outlets have reported that police officers allegedly cut the hair of racialized people to use as trophies. SPVM police Chief Fady Dagher has stated this was a part of the allegations.
“From our perspective, what’s been revealed thus far certainly brings us some questions as to the behaviour of the 16 officers involved with respect to the police act. So we want the commissioner to investigate thoroughly,” said Alain Babineau, the director of racial profiling and public safety at the Red Coalition.
“I’m very concerned about the managers and the supervisors that were supposed to oversee the behaviour of their officers on the streets. This thing, you know, how long has this been going on?
“I suspect it’s been going on for quite some time. And when have they found, when did they find out about it?”
The Red Coalition also filed a public interest complaint with the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission, also known as the CDPDJ, to address systemic patterns of discriminatory conduct and racial harassment targeting both community members and SPVM employees at Station 39 and beyond.
“We feel they’ll have no choice but to look at the broad spectrum of the SPVM with Station 39 lying under the roof of the institution,” DeBellefeuille said. “And that’s what’s important, is the institution. I’m repeating that because it’s one station, but the one station is controlled by the institution.”
The Red Coalition has scheduled a press conference for Monday morning at the Jamaican Association of Montreal to discuss the allegations.
