Montreal police chief promises transparency in Station 39 racism investigations

Montreal police chief Fady Dagher pledged Friday that the force would not conceal information about allegations of racist and discriminatory conduct involving officers at Station 39 in Montréal-Nord, in Quebec, Canada, according to CityNews. The police service confirmed a total of six officers had been suspended in connection with the allegations.

Dagher said the force was developing an action plan with communities and expected to discuss it in late November or early December. He called the alleged conduct unacceptable and warned that some evidence eventually made public, including videos and photographs, would be difficult to watch.

The police service's October 30 statement also confirmed an ongoing criminal investigation into a Station 39 officer suspected of misconduct and obstruction of justice in a domestic violence case. The officer was reassigned to administrative duties without public contact on June 12. Asked about allegations that the officer deleted a victim's video evidence, Dagher said investigators needed to finish their work before police could confirm details, CityNews reported.

The wider case concerns a patrol unit disbanded in June. In September, the Montreal Gazette reported that members were accused of targeting Black and Arab men, making racist comments and cutting locks of hair to keep as trophies. Police said the principal file was sent to Quebec prosecutors on September 28, while related investigations continued.