On Saturday, Ian Lafrenière appointed Anne-Marie Boisvert as an independent observer to monitor the investigation into allegations of racism against Montreal police officers.
Lafrenière specified in a post on his X account that Boisvert’s mandate will be to “verify that the SPVM’s investigations, both criminal and disciplinary, are conducted with integrity and impartiality” and to submit a report with his findings and recommendations.
Related:
“If she identifies an irregularity or a lack of cooperation from the SPVM, she must inform me without delay,” the minister stated.
Lafrenière also indicated that the observer will offer her observations to the Montreal Public Security Commission, after agreeing with Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada.
In his message on X, he does not explain the reasons for his choice.
The minister also indicated that a public inquiry “is not ruled out at the conclusion of the criminal investigation.”
This is in response to a request made Thursday by four civil society groups, who want the government to launch a public inquiry into “police racism and racial profiling within the Montreal Police Service (SPVM)”.
Hoodstock, the Saint-Michel Legal Clinic, the League for Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association sent a letter to Premier Christine Fréchette to inform her of their request.
This letter was sent approximately one week after the SPVM announced last Friday evening that it had dismantled a team from neighbourhood station 39 in Montreal North due to serious allegations of racist behaviour.
So far, the investigation initiated in March by the SPVM has led to the suspension of 2 police officers — whose files have been forwarded to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions — and the reassignment of 14 others.
The Montreal police investigation concerns allegations of “unacceptable actions and behavior.” According to several media reports, police officers allegedly cut the hair of racialized citizens to make “trophies.”
Lafrenière thus echoes the premier, who confirmed on Friday that she is not ruling out launching a public inquiry, stressing that “all options are on the table”.
Fréchette, however, reiterated that she wants to wait for the results of the ongoing investigation.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
