The Quebec police ethics commissioner has opened an investigation into allegations of racist misconduct by officers in Montréal‑Nord, the province’s watchdog confirmed, after being asked to do so by the provincial minister responsible for public safety.
The file was opened on June 26 at the request of Domestic Security Minister Ian Lafrenière, the commissioner said in an email. The investigation follows a public announcement by Montreal police that they had taken 16 officers off patrol amid allegations of discriminatory behaviour.
Sequence of events
Montreal police chief Fady Dagher told the public on June 12 that 16 officers had been removed from patrol duties; two of those officers were suspended and are the subject of a criminal investigation. A civil-rights lobby group, the Red Coalition, had filed a separate complaint with the ethics commissioner about the same matter roughly 10 days before the minister’s request.
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| June 12 | Montreal police remove 16 officers from patrol; two suspended and under criminal investigation |
| Mid‑June | The Red Coalition files a complaint with the ethics commissioner |
| June 26 | Minister Ian Lafrenière requests formal investigation; commissioner opens file |
Role of the minister and community advocates
A spokesperson for Minister Lafrenière told media the minister would allow the ethics commissioner’s review to proceed before commenting further. The Red Coalition, which advocates against racial profiling, submitted its own complaint about the conduct of officers and said it later received an email indicating its file was closed after the minister’s request.
- The ethics commissioner opened the file on June 26.
- Montreal police removed 16 officers from street patrol on June 12; two were suspended and face criminal investigation.
- The Red Coalition lodged a complaint about alleged racial profiling roughly 10 days before the minister’s intervention.
The involvement of both the provincial minister and a civil-rights group underscores the public scrutiny around police practices in Montréal‑Nord, a neighbourhood often in the spotlight for tensions between residents and law enforcement. The commissioner’s investigation will examine whether officers breached professional and ethical standards in their treatment of members of the community.
There was no timeline provided by the ethics commissioner for the investigation’s duration, and provincial officials have not indicated any planned policy changes pending the outcome. Representatives of the Red Coalition, including Alain Babineau, have previously said they welcome independent oversight of policing and called for transparency.
The opening of the ethics file means the commissioner will review the conduct of the officers involved and determine whether disciplinary or other administrative measures are warranted under the police act and applicable ethics rules. Separately, the criminal inquiry into two suspended officers will proceed under standard prosecutorial and police procedures.
Residents and community organizations in Montréal‑Nord and across Montreal will be watching the investigation closely; its findings could prompt changes in how the city and provincial authorities oversee, train and discipline police officers.
InfoRadar will follow the ethics commissioner’s review and any subsequent actions by Montreal police or provincial authorities, and will provide updates as further details become available.
