Montreal police have officially suspended two officers from a downtown station after a disturbing incident involving one of the officers urinating on a homeless individual during their shift. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has initiated an internal investigation into the conduct of these officers from Station 21, situated in downtown Montreal.
The suspension of the officers follows a recent report published by La Presse, which detailed the incident that appalled colleagues, leading them to report the behavior to higher authorities. The SPVM has refrained from disclosing further information regarding the investigation, citing privacy regulations under provincial law.
In response to the situation, the police department stated, “Be assured that the SPVM takes any allegation against one of its members seriously,” emphasizing their commitment to thoroughly investigate the matter and take necessary actions.
Another officer from the same station faced suspension in recent weeks for a separate issue. As per La Presse, this officer was accused of inappropriate behavior towards a suspect during an arrest. The officers involved have not yet presented their defense.
An advocate from the advocacy group RAPSIM, Annie Savage, expressed shock but not surprise at the allegations, citing ongoing concerns raised by homeless individuals about their interactions with law enforcement. Savage highlighted the deteriorating relationship between the police and homeless residents amid the city’s escalating homelessness crisis. She cautioned against viewing the incident as an isolated case.
A joint report released by RAPSIM and Clinique Droits Devant in June underscored tensions between homeless individuals and law enforcement in Montreal. The report revealed that a significant percentage of homeless individuals felt unfairly targeted or treated differently by law enforcement, leading to a lack of confidence in police during emergencies.
The allegations have surfaced as Montreal gears up for La Nuit des sans-abri, an annual event aimed at raising awareness about homelessness. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada labeled the allegations as “extremely serious,” emphasizing the importance of uncovering the truth through the ongoing investigation. The Montreal police brotherhood also denounced any actions that violate human dignity or professional standards.
While refraining from commenting on the specific allegations, the brotherhood stated that the reported conduct goes against the values upheld by Montreal police officers. The SPVM is currently embroiled in another controversy involving officers at Station 39 in Montréal-Nord, where a patrol unit was disbanded last June due to allegations of racial profiling by the officers.
