Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called for ongoing dialogue on Wednesday following a tense public hearing at City Hall where SPVM police chief Fady Dagher faced intense questioning from citizens regarding alleged racist misconduct by officers in Montréal-Nord.
Mayor Calls for Dialogue After Tense City Hall Hearing
The path toward rebuilding trust will prove long and difficult, Mayor Martinez Ferrada stated during an executive committee meeting on Wednesday morning. Delivering her first public remarks since the controversy erupted, the mayor defended the necessity of cusp Tuesday night public audience before the Commission de la sécurité publique, even though she chose to follow the proceedings virtually rather than attend in person. Local elected officials, including Montréal-Nord mayor Christine Black and public safety lead Jim Beis, represented the administration on site.
According to a brief municipal report, more than 80 questions were directed at the police chief during the Tuesday evening session. High attendance forced many residents outside, leaving them unable to enter the room or voice their concerns directly. Opposition leader Ericka Alneus criticized the mayor’s physical absence as a missed opportunity, while several public attendees, including citizen Donovan Lamarre, labeled the empty seat a sign of disrespect toward the community. The mayor’s office defended her absence by stating that the police force needed to address the public directly first.
Did You Know? The controversy came to light on June 12 when the police had removed 16 agents from their patrol functions in Montréal-Nord, and some of them have been suspended and are under review by the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (DPCP) following allegations of misconduct, including keeping locks of hair from citizens belonging to ethnic minorities as trophies.
Police Chief Outlines Cultural Shift and Community Plans
SPVM Chief Fady Dagher admitted in a Wednesday interview with La Presse that the strict format of Tuesday’s hearing, which limited exchanges to 90 seconds per question, felt very difficult and restrictive. He contrasted that format with community-style town halls, expressing a preference for more open discussions while noting a general decrease in public mistrust. Dagher emphasized that changing the organizational culture will take between seven and 10 years, and he pledged to unveil a coconstructed response plan with citizens this autumn.
Addressing critics who question his leadership, Dagher pointed to the unprecedented actions taken on June 12, when an entire team was dismantled and three officers were suspended. According to additional reporting from Radio-Canada, the 16 targeted officers remain disarmed and subject to ongoing criminal, deontological, and disciplinary investigations, with three remaining suspended and others reassigned outside the district. Radio-Canada also noted critiques from community voices, such as comedian Eddy King and activist Anastasia Marcelin, who highlighted long-standing systemic issues and the absence of Black representation in SPVM upper management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the public hearings in Montreal?
The hearings follow police actions on June 12, when 16 officers were removed from patrol in Montréal-Nord amid allegations of misconduct, including retaining citizens’ hair as trophies.
What measures has the SPVM taken regarding the implicated officers?
According to police leadership, all 16 officers have been disarmed and removed from patrol duties, with three officers remaining under suspension while facing criminal, deontological, and disciplinary investigations.
How long does the police chief estimate the culture change will take?
Chief Fady Dagher stated that shifting the organizational culture of the police service will require a span of seven to 10 years.
How will the city and police service sustain community engagement following this initial public hearing?
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