SPVM cracks down on Montréal-Nord unit suspected of co

SPVM cracks down on Montréal-Nord unit suspected of co-ordinated racist behaviour

Police Chief Fady Dagher holds unprecedented late-night news conference, saying racism will not be tolerated

Sixteen police officers from Station 39 in Montréal-Nord are under investigation for racist and hateful acts allegedly committed against Black and Arab people during police stops, Radio-Canada has learned.

Police Chief Fady Dagher held an unprecedented late-night news conference Friday at 10:30 p.m., saying the investigation is ongoing, but the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) will not tolerate this type of behaviour.

"I was extremely surprised. I didn't think it was possible in 2026. This is how deeply deeply hurt I am," he said, describing these officers as "tarnishing our uniform."According to a Radio-Canada source, some officers allegedly collected pieces of locs, sometimes called dreadlocks, that had been cut from people during police interventions.Tickets were also allegedly issued to citizens solely on the basis of their ethnic background, Rado-Canada reports.

Dagher refused to answer reporters' questions in detail while these cases are still under investigation, but he confirmed such allegations have been made. He also confirmed that two police officers are suspended, three were reassigned and the rest of the unit was "relocated" so they won't have contact with citizens for now.He said two cases were submitted to Quebec's director of criminal and penal prosecutions, known by its French acronym DPCP, which is examining whether criminal charges should be laid.

Station 39 colleagues reported the behaviour and an internal investigation was launched just over two months ago, according to Radio-Canada.

Dagher commended those who came forward and alerted authorities. "The SPVM acknowledge the courage of the employees who reported the facts and those who conducted the investigation," he said.

Most of the officers involved are young men with less than five years of service, according to Dagher. He said confirmations were made on Thursday, and then actions were taken when the officers started their shift Friday evening.

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada posted on social media Friday night, saying any form of racial profiling or violence is unacceptable.

"I immediately reached out to the Minister of Public Security. We have agreed to work together to accelerate the implementation of body-worn cameras within the SPVM," she said.

Located in the Montréal-Nord borough, Station 39 is considered a key police post in the city.

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Tensions between police and members of several cultural communities have led to multiple violent incidents over the past decades, including the riots that followed the death of Freddy Villanueva in 2008 and, more recently, demonstrations over the death of Abisay Cruz, who died while being restrained by police in March 2025.

In March, Montreal police presented its latest plan to tackle racism and discrimination.

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Written by Isaac Olson with files from Radio-Canada