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As accusations of misconduct against Montreal’s police service mount, Chief Fady Dagher says he is taking concrete steps to bring change from the ground up while investigating and potentially prosecuting those “one per cent” of officers who “tarnish the uniform.”
This comes after new allegations arose at Station 39 in Montréal-Nord, which has been at the centre of a major racism scandal since June.
Now, the Quebec Crown prosecution’s office is investigating an officer who, according to Radio-Canada sources, allegedly deleted evidence from a victim’s phone in a case of domestic violence in 2025. When an officer flagged the deletion to her superiors, she alleges, the issue was ignored.
Also in recent news, Quebec’s domestic security minister has ordered two separate investigations into a Montreal police officer who allegedly urinated on homeless people while in uniform.
But the latest claims are not the first time the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has faced accusations of misconduct, having been the subject of serious allegations of police brutality and discrimination in the past.
In a news conference Friday, Dagher insisted he has been working tirelessly to not only weed out those on the force who are breaking laws and policies, but also prevent more such officers from being hired.
“We have reviewed everything,” Dagher said, citing recruitment, training and promotion processes. “It didn’t happen in a day. It took several years, and believe me, it’s not over.”
The SPVM, he said, has overhauled the internal investigative norms and standards. Dagher said the police service also put tools in place so officers can flag their colleagues for misconduct, and “the 99 per cent responded” by reporting those who break protocol or the law.
The majority of officers, he explained, do admirable work, day after day, risking their lives to protect others.
“I have always told my police officers since I was hired that I would always defend them in the context of their work during emergency responses,” he said, noting mistakes are inevitable.
“But I say again today, that I will be merciless to those who intentionally and deliberately conduct themselves in a way that tarnishes the uniform.”
He defended his actions back in June when a 16-member patrol unit from Station 39 was suspended following allegations of discrimination and misconduct. More suspensions followed as the investigation continued in the weeks and months since.
Some question why he didn’t fire these officers immediately, he said, but “I wanted to do more.” That includes a thorough investigation into not just the individuals, but any potential accomplices.
“And an investigation of this kind takes time,” he said. He acknowledged that many people are impatient, especially the victims, who have been “waiting too long.”
He said more information will be released in November.
Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has come out in support of Dagher, saying she is confident in his effort to bring cultural change to the SPVM and rid the service of “bad apples.”
“I think we have someone who wants to tackle this culture. So, let’s give him the chance to do that,” she said.
“Let’s give him the chance to speak to the citizens and strengthen their sense of security towards their police service.”
Dagher was promoted to the role of police chief in November 2022.
Opposition Leader Ericka Alneus said the most recent allegations “shatter the confidence of people in vulnerable situations who need to feel that society is behind them.”
She said the mayor “must take responsibility, show leadership and summon the police chief to an extraordinary city council meeting to answer public questions.”
