Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

{{Short description|Police Service in Montreal, Canada}} {{For|the provincial police service in Quebec|Sûreté du Québec}} {{Infobox law enforcement agency | agencyname = Service de police<br />de la Ville de Montréal | abbreviation = SPVM | logo = Service de police de la Ville de Montréal Logo.svg | patch = | motto = Une équipe engagée | mottotranslated = A committed team | formedyear = March 15, 1843 | budget = C$587 million (2014) | country = Urban agglomeration of Montreal | sizearea = {{convert|499.26|km2|sqmi}} | headquarters = 1441 Saint Urbain Street<br />Montreal, Quebec, Canada | stationtype = Station | stations = 33 | chief1name = Fady Dagher | chief1position = Director | minister1name = François Bonnardel | minister1pfo = Minister of Public Security | sworn = 4,562 (2019)<ref name="statistics"/> | unsworn = 1,356 (2019)<ref name="statistics"/> | vehicle1type = Road vehicles | vehicles1 = 1,687 (2015) | boat1type = Water vehicles | boats1 = 23 (2015) | aircraft1type = | aircraft1 = | animal2type = Dogs | animals2 = 35 German Shepherds<br />7 Labradors | website = [https://www.spvm.qc.ca/en/ spvm.qc.ca] }} The '''Service de police de la Ville de Montréal''' ({{IPA|fr|sɛʁvis də pɔlis də la vil də mɔ̃ʁeal}}, "Montreal City Police Service", abbr. '''SPVM''') is the municipal police agency for the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the neighbouring communities in the urban agglomeration of Montreal. With over 4,500 officers and more than 1,300 civilian staff, it is the second-largest municipal police agency in Canada after the Toronto Police Service.

==History== The Montreal City Police Service was created on March 15, 1843. At that time, there were 51 police officers in Montreal. The first officers did not wear uniforms. In order to be recognizable as police officers by civilians, the first uniforms were created in 1848. In 1853, they won the right to carry firearms in the performance of their duties.

In the early twentieth century, the Montreal City Police Service counted 467 constables, inspectors and managers. The force was subdivided, as squads of morality and local departments were created.

The size of the police force remained roughly the same from the beginning of the century until 1930, when it hired more staff in the context of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. During the Great Depression, tens of thousands of workers lost their jobs and there was an increase in crime. In the late 1930s, the Montreal City Police Service had about 1,500 employees.

Following the progress of scientific analysis, a mobile laboratory was created in 1957. It evolved and changed in the 1980s to become the technical section. One of the most famous operations of the Montreal City Police Service was the undercover assignment of Robert Ménard between 1970-1976 who bugged the Reggio Bar owned by Paolo Violi, the underboss of the Cotroni family.{{sfn|Cedilot|Noel|2012|p=81}} The information collected by Ménard revealed much about Mafia operations in Canada, the United States and Italy.{{sfn|Cedilot|Noel|2012|p=81}}

The Museum of the Montreal Police ({{langx|fr|Musée de la police de Montréal}}) was established in 1992 to preserve the history of the Montreal City Police Service.<ref name="Museum">{{cite web|title=Musée de la police: About the Museum|url=http://www.spvm.qc.ca/en/documentation/3_7_1_a_propos_du_musee.asp|publisher=Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal|access-date=26 December 2012}}</ref>

==Leadership== [[File:Moses Judah Hays.jpg|thumb|right|upright|200px|Moses Judah Hayes, Chief from 1854 to 1861]] thumb|right|upright|200px|Guillaume Lamothe, Chief from 1861 to 1865 thumb|right|upright|200px|David Legault, Chief from 1901 to 1904 thumb|right|upright|200px|Pierre Bélanger, Chief from 1921 to 1928 The following is a list of Chiefs and Directors of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal.<ref name="Chefs-Directeurs">{{cite web|title=Chefs/Directeurs de police de la Ville de Montréal|url=http://www.spvm.qc.ca/upload/documentations/Chefs-Directeurs-de-police-de-Montreal_.pdf|publisher=Service de police de la Ville de Montréal|access-date=10 February 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! No. !! Name !! Term start !! Term end |- | 1. || {{ill|Alexandre Comeau|fr}} || 1843 || 1844 |- | 2. || Thomas Wiley || 1844 || 1849 |- | 3. || Hippolyte Jérémie || 1849 || 1850 |- | 4. || Thomas McGrath || 1850 || 1853 |- | 5. || {{ill|Charles Oakes Ermatinger (police chief)|lt=Charles O. Ermatinger|qid=Q113636440}} || 1853 || 1854 |- | 6. || Moses Judah Hayes || 1854 || 1861 |- | 7. || {{ill|Guillaume Lamothe|qid=Q113636340}} || 1861 || 1865 |- | 8. || Fred A. Penton || 1865 || 1879 |- | 9. || Hercule Paradis || 1879 || 1888 |- | 10. || George A. Hughes || 1888 || 1900 |- | 11. || David Legault || 1901 || 1904 |- | 12. || Olivier Campeau || 1904 || 1918 |- | 13. || Joseph Tremblay (interim) || 1918 || 1918 |- | 14. || Pierre Bélanger || 1919 || 1928 |- | 15. || Hulbrit Langevin || 1928 || 1931 |- | 16. || Fernand Dufresne || 1931 || 1946 |- | 17. || Charles Barnes (interim) || 1947 || 1947 |- | 18. || Albert Langlois || 1947 || 1954 |- | 19. || T.O. Leggett (interim) || 1954 || 1956 |- | 20. || Pacifique Plante (interim) || 1956 || 1956 |- | 21. || Albert Langlois || 1957 || 1961 |- | 22. || Ernest Pleau (interim) || 1961 || 1961 |- | 23. || Adrien J. Robert || 1961 || 1965 |- | 24. || Jean-Paul Gilbert || 1965 || 1970 |- | 25. || {{ill|Marcel Saint-Aubin|fr}} || 1970 || 1971 |- | 26. || Jean-Jacques Saulnier || 1971 || 1971 |- | 27. || Maurice Saint-Pierre (interim) || 1972 || 1972 |- | 28. || René Daigneault || 1972 || 1977 |- | 29. || Henri-Paul Vignola || 1977 || 1981 |- | 30. || André De Luca ||1982 || 1985<ref name="Gazette1985">{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wg0vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s6UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1132%2C312194|title=Strife between top Montreal cops as Bourget takes over as chief of force|last=Johnston|first=David|date=1985-02-02|publisher=The Gazette (Montreal)|access-date=15 November 2012}}</ref> |- | 31. || Roland Bourget || 1985 || 1989<ref name="Bourget">{{cite web|url=http://fr.canoe.com/infos/societe/archives/2010/09/20100913-085051.html|title=Roland Bourget est décédé|date=2010-09-13|publisher=Agence QMI|access-date=15 November 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |- | 32. || Alain Saint-Germain || 1989 || 1994 |- | 33. || Jacques Duchesneau || 1994 || 1998 |- | 34. || Claude Rochon (interim) || 1998 || 1998 |- | 35. || Michel Sarrazin || 1998 || 2005 |- | 36. || Yvan Delorme || 2005 || 2010 |- | 37. || Marc Parent || 2010|| 2015 |- | 38. || Philippe Pichet || 2015|| 2017 |- |39. |Martin Prud'homme (interim)<ref name="Interim Montreal police chief Martin Prud'homme ready to lead change">{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3930517/interim-montreal-police-chief-martin-prudhomme-ready-to-lead-change/|title=Interim Montreal police chief Martin Prud'homme ready to lead change|year=2017|access-date=2018-02-04|work=Global News}}</ref> |2017 |2018 |- |40. |Sylvain Caron<ref>{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/sylvain-caron-chosen-as-new-montreal-police-chief|work=Montreal Gazette|title=Sylvain Caron chosen as new Montreal police chief}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/sylvain-caron-spvm-chief-1.4896286|title=Montreal chooses Sylvain Caron as new police chief|work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> |2018 |2022 |- |41. |Sophie Roy (interim)<ref name="Gazette"/> |2022 |2023 |- |42. |Fady Dagher<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Fady Dagher sworn in as Montreal police chief, acknowledges he faces headwinds |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/fady-dagher-sworn-in-as-montreal-police-chief-acknowledges-he-faces-headwinds |access-date=2023-01-22 |website=montrealgazette.com |language=en-CA}}</ref> |2023 |Incumbent |}

==Organization== [[File:Montrealpolicerl.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Police officer patrolling on René-Lévesque Boulevard]] The SPVM is led by Fady Dagher, Director (chief of police), who took over in January 2023 from Sophie Roy, who was in an interim position after Sylvain Caron retired.<ref name="Gazette">{{cite web |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-confirms-appointment-of-sophie-roy-as-interim-chief-of-montreal-police |title=Quebec confirms appointment of Sophie Roy as interim chief of Montreal police |work=Montreal Gazette |access-date=2022-08-04}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The rank structure and strength of the SPVM as of 2019 was: * Director (1) * Assistant Director (6) * Chief Inspector (15) * Inspector (25) * Commandant (68) * Lieutenant (47) and Detective Lieutenant (76) * Sergeant (365) and Detective Sergeant (641) * Constable (3,318)<ref name="statistics">{{cite web |url=https://rapportspvm2019.ca/rapport/SPVM%20Stats_2019_ANG_FINAL.pdf |title=Demographic statistics about SPVM personnel |author= |date=25 September 2020 |website=SPVM |access-date=3 January 2021 }}</ref>

Some of the police functions carried out by the service include: * Patrol police officers * Intervention officers (GI, Riot police) (now called SSIS Section Support et Intervention Spécialisé) * Tactical response officers (SWAT/GTI) * Motorcycle officers * Community relations officers * Physical surveillance officers (shadowing) * Section chiefs * Investigators * K-9 unit officers * Mounted patrol officers * Marine patrol officers * Patrol supervisors * Parking enforcement officers

The SPVM also has over 1,000 civilian employees, and around 200 police cadets.

==Ranks== ;Executive Officers * Director (''Directeur''): three gold fleur-de-lis under crest over a crossed gold sword and baton; similar to the insignia of a lieutenant-general in the Canadian Army * Associate Director (''Directeur-Adjoint''): two gold fleur-de-lis under crest over a crossed gold sword and baton; similar to the insignia of a major-general in the Canadian Army ;Staff Officers * Chief Inspector (''Inspecteur-chef''): four gold stripes; former insignia of a colonel in the Canadian Army * Inspector (''Inspecteur''): three gold stripes; former insignia of a lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Army * Commander (''Commandant''): two and a half gold stripes; former insignia of a major in the Canadian Army ;Superior Officers * Lieutenant (''Lieutenant''): one and a half gold stripes; former insignia of a lieutenant in the Canadian Army ;Officers * Sergeant (''Sergent''): one gold stripe; former insignia of a second lieutenant in the Canadian Army ;Constables * Senior Constable (''Agent Sénior'') * Constable (''Agent'') Source:<ref>[https://spvm.qc.ca/fr/Pages/Decouvrir-le-SPVM/Lorganisation/Insignes-et-grades "Insignes et grades." ''SPVM.''] Retrieved 2020-04-04.</ref>

==Operations== The SPVM covers an area of about 496 square kilometres and 1,958,000 residents of the island of Montreal.

There are 33 police stations that operate within four geographical regions: East, West, North and South.

Other units of the SPVM include: * K-9 section * Mounted unit * Nautical patrol * Crisis management * Strategic planning * Emergency Response Team (SWAT/GTI) * Forensics * Airport Unit at Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport * Montréal Metro Unit

* Chevrolet Impala 9C1 * Dodge Charger Enforcer * Ford Police Interceptor Sedan * Ford Police Interceptor Utility * Mitsubishi i-MiEV * BMW R1200RT * Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide * Ford E-450 * Ford F-150 * Ford F-450 Super Duty * Ford Escape * Ford Transit * Dodge Grand Caravan * RAM 2500 Heavy Duty * RAM 3500 Heavy Duty * RAM Promaster * Mercedes-Benz Sprinter * Grumman Kurbmaster * Freightliner M2-106 * Thunder-1 (armoured vehicle) * Winnebago Adventurer

==Equipment== The standard sidearm of the Montreal Police is the Glock 19.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/montreal/201408/29/01-4795821-de-nouveaux-pistolets-pour-le-spvm.php| title = De nouveaux pistolets pour le SPVM | newspaper = La Presse| date = 29 August 2014| last1 = Normandin| first1 = Pierre-André}} </ref> and Diemaco C8 assault rifle are also stocked by the SPVM and its Emergency Response Team armory, but these long guns are rarely used.

Prior to the Glock 19 officers carried the Walther P99 9mm as the sidearm which replaced the .357 Magnum revolvers in the early 2000s.

==Criticism== In 1986, Anthony Griffin, who was 19 and unarmed, was killed by SPVM police officer Allan Gosset.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=A timeline of police violence against racialized people in Montreal |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/a-timeline-of-police-violence-against-people-of-colour-in-montreal |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=montrealgazette |language=en-CA}}</ref> His death sparked protests.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2017 |title=The death of Anthony Griffin and how he changed a city |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/anthony-griffin-montreal-police-shooting-anniversary-death-30-years-1.4394755 |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>

In 1988, José Carlos Garcia, 43, was killed by an SPVM officer leading to a Sûreté du Québec investigation and a coroner's inquest.<ref name=":1" />

In 1990, Presley Leslie, 26, was killed at Thunderdome dance club by SPVM police leading to an inquiry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black's sentence for threat raises Montreal tension |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1990-11-04-1990308052-story.html |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Baltimore Sun}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> That same year, Jorge Chavarria-Reyes was shot by a plainclothes officer leading to a Sûreté du Québec investigation and a coroner's inquest.

In 1991, Fritzgerald Forbes died due to a heart attack following his arrest.<ref name=":1" /> Also in 1991, in a case of mistaken identity, 24-year-old Marcellus Francois was killed by Montreal police.<ref name=":1" /> A Sûreté du Québec investigation was held and two officers suspended on a short-term basis for misconduct.<ref name=":1" /> A lawsuit was launched by the family against the city of Montreal which was settled for $218,269.<ref name=":1" />

In 1993, Trevor Kelley was shot by Montreal police leading to a Sûreté du Québec investigation.<ref name=":1" />

In 1995, Martin Omar Suazo was shot by a Montreal police officer leading to a police ethics commission investigation which found the police officer responsible for improper use of a firearm and led to his short-term suspension.<ref name=":1" />

In 2001, 19-year-old Michael Kibbe fell to his death at a Montreal police station while trying to escape arrest.<ref name=":1" /> His parents called for a public inquiry and the case was eventually investigated by the Comité de déontologie policière.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 8, 2001 |title=Parents demand inquiry into teen's death |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/parents-demand-inquiry-into-teen-s-death-1.279161 |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Handfield |first=Catherine |date=2009-03-17 |title=Mort de Michael Kibbe: les agents de police blanchis |language=fr-CA |work=La Presse |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/justice-et-faits-divers/200903/17/01-837192-mort-de-michael-kibbe-les-agents-de-police-blanchis.php |access-date=2023-03-10}}</ref>

In 2004, Rohan Wilson died while in police custody, leading to a coroner's inquest.<ref name=":1" />

In 2005, Mohamed Anas Bennis was shot twice by Montreal police officers leading to the formation of the Justice for Anas Coalition.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Family seeking justice, financial support in Bennis murder case |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/116002/family-seeking-justice-financial-support-in-bennis-murder-case/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |work=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

On 3 November 2005, the United Nations Human Rights Committee advised the Canadian government to allow an enquiry on the SPVM about its mass arrests tactic during political demonstrations.<ref name="Comité de presse de la Ligue des droits et libertés">{{cite web|url=http://www.liguedesdroits.ca/assets/files/publications/communiques/COM-2005-11-03-CDH.doc|title=L'ONU interpelle le Canada, responsable de plusieurs violations des droits et libertés|date=2005-11-03|access-date=2009-05-05|work=Ligue des droits et libertés}}</ref><ref name="L'ONU se penche sur les méthodes du SPVM">{{cite web|url=http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/regional/archives/2005/11/20051103-081622.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105042428/http://lcn.canoe.com/lcn/infos/regional/archives/2005/11/20051103-081622.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2005|title=L'ONU se penche sur les méthodes du SPVM|date=2005-11-03|access-date=2009-05-05|work=LCN}}</ref><ref name="Montreal police reprimanded by UN">{{cite web|url=http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=7652|title=Montreal police reprimanded by UN|date=2005-11-10|access-date=2009-05-05|work=The Hour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035613/http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=7652|archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref><ref name="Arrested victory">{{cite web|url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/060707/front.html|title=Arrested victory|date=2007-06-13|access-date=2009-05-05|work=The Mirror}}</ref> The tactic is a rapid encirclement of as many protesters as possible regardless of how they may have conducted themselves during the demonstration, and is argued to be a violation of their fundamental rights.<ref name="L'ONU blâme la police de Montréal">{{cite web|url=http://www.lecouac.org/spip.php?article56|title=L'ONU blâme la police de Montréal|year=2006|access-date=2009-05-05|work=Le Couac}}</ref> According to Francis Dupuis-Déri, a political science professor at Université du Québec à Montréal, police officers employ this tactic because of a "deviance" radical political demonstrators pose to media, politicians and police officers themselves.<ref>Dupuis-Déri, Francis. "Broyer du noir: manifestations et répression policière au Québec", ''Les ateliers de l'éthique'' vol. 1, num. 1, printemps 2006,. p. 59-80</ref>

In 2007, Quilem Registre died in a hospital four days afted being tasered several times by SPVM officers.<ref name=":1" /> Following his death, a coroner's report called for better training of police officers and critiqued their use of the taser.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2008 |title=Montreal family wants public inquiry after coroner says Taser use avoidable |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-family-wants-public-inquiry-after-coroner-says-taser-use-avoidable-1.734475 |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>

In 2008, Fredy Villanueva was shot by SPVM Officer Jean-Loup Lapointe, leading to multiple protests and increased public discourse about racial profiling.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Perreaux |first=Les |date=2018-08-05 |title=A decade after Fredy Villanueva's death in Montreal North, what has changed? |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-a-decade-after-fredy-villanuevas-death-in-montreal-north-what-has/ |access-date=2023-03-10}}</ref> The SPVM was criticized in the aftermath of the August 10, 2008 riots, which started due to the shooting death of 18-year-old Villanueva by an officer who alleged that Villanueva attacked him and his partner while they were arresting his older brother. He argued that he was trying to defend both his partner and himself by firing his Walther P99 service gun at the 18-year-old.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/family-destroyed-by-death-of-montreal-man-shot-by-police-1.768129|work=CBC News|title=Family 'destroyed' by death of Montreal man shot by police|date=2008-08-15}}</ref>

In 2011, Mario Hamel, a homeless man, was shot by Montreal police officers leading to criticism of SPVM training.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Coroner's inquest into Alain Magloire's death begins |url=https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/coroner-s-inquest-into-alain-magloire-s-death-begins-1.2184150/comments-7.597683/comments-7.597683 |access-date=2023-03-10 |work=CTV News Montreal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Société- |title=Mort de Mario Hamel: le coroner cible la formation et l'équipement des policiers |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/590575/mario-hamel-coroner-rapport |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Radio-Canada.ca |language=fr-ca}}</ref>

In 2012, Farshad Mohammadi was shot by SPVM officers, resulting in a coroner's report calling for increased training for officers regarding their treatment of those with mental illness as well as criticism of the police's social profiling of homeless individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Police Killing of Farshad Mohammadi: Exposing the Root Causes |url=http://montreal.mediacoop.ca/story/police-killing-farshad-mohammadi-exposing-root-causes/9665.html |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=montreal.mediacoop.ca |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 2012, the SPVM came under criticism regarding their handling of the 2012 Quebec student protests.<ref name="I'm Not a Quebec Protester, But Police Assaulted Me Anyway">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dave-kaufman/quebec-protest_b_1545141.html|title=I'm Not a Quebec Protester, But Police Assaulted Me Anyway|year=2012|access-date=2012-05-28|work=Huffington Post}}</ref>

A former Montreal police officer, Stéfanie Trudeau, also known in the media as Officer 728, was given a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered to do 60 hours of community service for assaulting a man in October 2012. The officer was found guilty of assault in February 2016 for using excessive force.<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/officer-728-assault-sentence-1.3600799 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/officer-728-assault-sentence-1.3600799]</ref>

In 2014, Alain Magloire, a mentally ill and homeless individual, was killed during a police intervention, leading to a coroner's inquest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coroner's inquest into Alain Magloire's death begins |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/coroner-s-inquest-into-alain-magloire-s-death-begins-1.2184150/comments-7.597683/comments-7.597683 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=CTV News Montreal}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 2016, 46-year-old Bony Jean-Pierre died following a police intervention in Montreal North, leading to calls for change and a demonstration.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Montreal North Protest Held for Man Killed By Police |url=https://thelinknewspaper.ca/article/montreal-north-protest-held-for-man-killed-by-police |access-date=2023-03-10 |newspaper=The Link |language=en}}</ref>

In June 2016, the Quebec Minister of Public Security introduced an independent agency, the "Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI)", to be responsible for investigating "shootings, serious injuries and deaths stemming from police interventions".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-bureau-independent-investigations-police-1.3654461|title=Quebec's independent investigation unit called out for lack of diversity|access-date=2016-07-14}}</ref> The selection of investigators was criticized for being composed of former members law enforcement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ledevoir.com/societe/actualites-en-societe/461041/interventions-policieres-l-autonomie-du-bei-est-remise-en-question|title=L'autonomie du BEI est remise en question|date=23 January 2016 |access-date=2016-07-14}}</ref> Eleven out of the eighteen members are former police officers,<ref name="montrealgazette.com">{{Cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/ex-cops-dominate-new-body-that-investigates-police-shootings|title=Ex-cops dominate new agency that investigates police shootings|date=2016-06-28|language=en-US|access-date=2016-07-14}}</ref> in addition to being "nearly 100 percent white and composed almost entirely of men".<ref name="montrealgazette.com" /> The structure of the agency itself was criticized for lacking independent powers, since the BEI "acts only at the request of the Minister of Public Security".<ref name="montrealgazette.com" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bei.gouv.qc.ca/home/organization/mandate-and-powers.html|title=Mandate and Powers - Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes|website=www.bei.gouv.qc.ca|access-date=2016-07-14}}</ref>

In 2017, 58-year-old Pierre Coriolan died after being shot, tasered, and hit by police officers.<ref name=":1" /> A coroner's inquest found that police lacked sufficient de-escalation training.<ref>{{Cite news |last=MacLellan |first=Ainslie |date=February 16, 2022 |title=Death of Pierre Coriolan shows police lack training, Quebec coroner finds |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/pierre-coriolan-report-1.6353562 |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref>

In 2018, 23-year-old Nicholas Gibbs was shot by a Montreal police officer resulting in protests.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Protesters gather in memory of Nicholas Gibbs, shot dead by Montreal police |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5779737/protesters-gather-in-memory-of-nicholas-gibbs-shot-dead-by-police-officers/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |work=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title='The police didn't have the right to kill my son,' Nicholas Gibbs's mother says |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/vigil-planned-for-n-d-g-man-killed-by-police |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=montrealgazette |language=en-CA}}</ref>

In 2019, a report commissioned by the city found that SPVM officers are four to five times more likely to stop a person of colour than a white person.<ref name=":1" />

In June 2020, the Defund the Police Coalition was formed during international protests in the aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd, the killings of Breonna Taylor and Chantal Moore, and the death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet.<ref name="coalition">{{Cite web |title=Defund la police |url=https://defundlapolice.com/en/coalition |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Defund the Police Coalition / Coalition pour le définancement de la police |language=en-US}}</ref> The Coalition consists of over 80 groups.<ref name="coalition"/> One of the Coalition's demands is to reduce the SPVM budget by at least 50%.<ref name="coalition"/>

In January 2021, the SPVM evoked controversy when they mistakenly arrested a Polytechnique Montréal professor in the Park Extension neighbourhood. The man spent six days in jail, before being cleared on charges of disarming and assaulting a police officer, while the actual suspect remains at large. This led to renewed calls for universal police body cameras.<ref>{{cite news|title=Un policier attaqué et desarmé|url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/01/28/parc-extension--un-policier-desarme-puis-blesse-a-la-tete|publisher=Journal de Montréal|location=Montreal|date=28 January 2021|access-date=13 February 2021}} Article updated 3 February 2021</ref>

==See also== * Integrated Security Unit * Police officer * Royal Canadian Mounted Police * Service de sécurité incendie de Montréal * Sûreté du Québec * Urgences-Santé ==Books== *{{cite book |last1=Cedilot |first1=Andre |last2=Noel |first2=Andre |title=Mafia Inc. The Long, Bloody Reign of Canada's Sicilian Clan |date=2012 |publisher=Random House of Canada |location=Toronto |isbn=9780307360410}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.spvm.qc.ca/en/ Official website] * [http://www.fppm.qc.ca/ Fraternité des policiers et policières de Montréal]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Service de police de la Ville de Montreal}} Category:Service de police de la Ville de Montréal Category:Municipal government of Montreal Category:Law enforcement agencies of Quebec

Service de police de la Ville de Montréal

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