Montreal police to fire seven members of the force over misconduct allegations

Montreal police have fired seven officers following allegations of discriminatory and racist misconduct, according to Chief Fady Dagher at a news conference on Monday. Dagher stated that the force has taken "exceptional measures" to address the issues, describing the actions of the dismissed officers as "malicious" rather than accidental mistakes.

The seven individuals fired include personnel from a patrol unit in Montreal North, a multicultural borough with a history of tensions between residents and police, as well as personnel from a downtown station. The investigation into the unit began in March after internal complaints about alleged racism and criminal misconduct surfaced, including reports of officers cutting the hair of racialized citizens and keeping it as trophies.

Chief Dagher emphasized that the decision to dismiss the officers was made in the name of public interest and public security, stating that police officers should be judged based on how they treat individuals who cannot defend themselves. The allegations of misconduct also extend to other officers, with one reportedly facing criminal charges for allegedly deleting video evidence related to a domestic violence case and another allegedly urinating on a person experiencing homelessness.

The news of these dismissals comes three days after Chief Dagher pledged serious action following a series of scandals that led to the suspension of at least six officers in recent months.