Latest officer suspension linked to third racism incident, Montreal police say

Montreal police have revealed that a fourth officer has been suspended, bringing the total number of suspensions related to alleged misconduct to four. The most recent incident follows a third confirmed case of alleged misconduct, which was linked to a recent suspension of an officer in a multicultural neighborhood. This marks the third racism-related incident that has led to officer suspensions in the city.

In June, police chief Fady Dagher announced the disbanding of a 16-member patrol unit due to allegations of racism, misconduct, and criminal behavior. Three officers were suspended in June, with cases referred to public prosecutors for further investigation. Two officers were initially suspended for a single incident, while a third officer was later suspended in connection with a separate event.

A police spokesperson confirmed that a fourth officer was suspended on August 19, citing a third incident of misconduct. However, the exact circumstances surrounding this latest suspension were not disclosed by the police.

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Dagher, and the head of the police brotherhood, Yves Francoeur, held a news conference on August 21 to announce measures aimed at improving public trust in law enforcement. However, the latest suspension was not mentioned during the press conference. The police have not specified when Dagher became aware of the suspension of the fourth officer.