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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMontreal’s then-mayor-elect Soraya Martinez Ferrada takes part in a press conference at city hall in Montreal, on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Christopher Katsarov<\/p>\n
\u201cThe worry, anger and questions this situation raises are perfectly normal,\u201d she said, while calling for \u201ccalm and responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMontrealers deserve to know the whole truth about what happened. That is precisely what I want this investigation to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday evening, senior Montreal police officials moved to disband a night patrol unit in the city\u2019s Montr\u00e9al-Nord borough, suspending two police officers and reassigning 14 others after instances of alleged racial profiling and discrimination.<\/p>\n
The two suspended officers are under investigation by the prosecutor\u2019s office regarding possible violations of the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n
Police Chief Fady Dagher said Friday that 14 other officers were reassigned to tasks that do not require contact with citizens involved in the investigation.<\/p>\n
The ongoing probe into police at Station 39 began in March, following information obtained by fellow officers.<\/p>\n
Among other allegations, several media outlets have reported that officers allegedly cut the hair of racialized citizens to turn it into \u201ctrophies.\u201d Dagher indicated Friday that those reports made up part of the investigation.<\/p>\n
The officers involved reportedly have three to four years\u2019 experience. Two women are among them, and the others are men.<\/p>\n
Ferrada said she and Quebec Public Security Minister Ian Lafreni\u00e8re have agreed to ramp up deployment of body cameras at Montreal\u2019s police force.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an important tool that can effectively strengthen transparency, better document interventions and give both citizens and police officers a sense of security,\u201d Ferrada said.<\/p>\n
The mayor\u2019s January budget includes $40 million to buy and deploy body-worn cameras for officers between 2026 and 2034. But no concrete timeline had been laid out as to when police would begin to don the devices, with Ferrada indicating earlier this year that provincial funding was necessary.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, she suggested a review of hiring protocols may be called for. She went on to invoke a broader social critique.<\/p>\n
\u201cProfiling, discrimination, racism unfortunately still exists in many institutions, not only the SPVM,\u201d she said Saturday, pointing to personal experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a woman of colour. I\u2019m in a relationship with a Black man. I can tell you all about profiling; we\u2019ve experienced it first-hand.\u201d<\/p>\n
The notion of discrimination by law enforcement came as no surprise to some in Montr\u00e9al-Nord, where more than half of residents belong to visible minority groups, according to the non-profit Centraide of Greater Montreal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up on the streets, I grew up in Montr\u00e9al-Nord. So I\u2019ve seen worse than that,\u201d said resident Ricky Peter. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t surprise me.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to go and cut someone else\u2019s hair, a regular citizen. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter echoed the mayor\u2019s observation that prejudice is not the sole purview of any one institution or segment of society.<\/p>\n
\u201cRacial discrimination happens all over the world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n