Muhammad Amanullah | August 12, 2026
The True Post (Web News) — Montreal’s police service has launched a broad reform initiative aimed at addressing cultural issues within the organization and rebuilding public trust following allegations of racial discrimination and racial profiling involving Black and Arab residents in the Montreal North area.
The police service’s new strategy includes immediate disciplinary measures, long-term monitoring, greater transparency and closer accountability with local communities.
16 Officers Under Investigation
The issue came to public attention in June when Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher revealed during an unusual late-night news conference that 16 officers assigned to Station 39 were being investigated over alleged racist and discriminatory conduct.
The allegations reportedly involved the treatment of Black and Arab residents during police stops.
Dagher also announced the disbanding of the 16-member patrol team. According to the chief, the investigation began after colleagues of the officers reported the alleged conduct.
Three Officers Suspended
During a public meeting on Tuesday, Police Chief Fady Dagher said that three officers have so far been suspended while the investigation continues. The most recent suspension took place on June 18.
Dagher stressed that disbanding the 16-member unit does not mean misconduct or wrongdoing has been established against every officer involved, as the internal investigation remains ongoing.
Cédric Couture, the police service’s deputy director of community policing, said a new team was deployed in the area on July 13 to replace the disbanded unit.
Tough Questions at Public Meeting
The police chief addressed residents Tuesday night at a public meeting of Montreal’s Public Security Commission at Montreal City Hall.
Dozens of people attended the meeting, while some residents reportedly had to leave because the venue did not have enough space. Hundreds of people also followed the proceedings online.
Residents questioned the police chief about alleged racism, complaints against police officers and the money being spent defending officers accused of misconduct.
The recent allegations of racial discrimination in Montreal North have also brought renewed attention to concerns about police conduct that have existed in the community for years.
Reference to Complaints Dating Back 17 Years
Human rights advocate Fo Niemi said complaints involving racial profiling and alleged inappropriate police conduct in Montreal North have been documented for approximately 17 years.
He argued that concerns have repeatedly been raised over the years but that the situation has still not completely changed.
Niemi questioned the effectiveness of the current measures, suggesting that maintaining the same approach would not necessarily produce different results.
Calls to End Systemic Racism
Jennifer Sydney, who attended the meeting, said some members of the community are afraid of the police. She questioned when systemic racism within the police service would finally be eliminated.
Chief Dagher acknowledged the concerns of residents and said he understood the feelings of people who fear police, while emphasizing that the service is taking practical steps to improve the situation.
Another resident, Jean Pires, raised questions about race and racial superiority, asking why white people would consider themselves more important than Black people.
Dagher responded that, in his view, there is only one human race and that no person is superior to another.
External Oversight of the Investigation
As part of its reform strategy, the Montreal police service said it is encouraging people to report complaints and alleged misconduct openly, with the aim of identifying problems both inside and outside the organization.
Police officials said future policy changes will be developed in consultation with local stakeholders and community organizations.
The goal is to ensure that communities affected by the allegations have a role in the reform process.
No Criminal Proceedings Yet
According to prosecutor spokesperson Annick Côté, police have not yet submitted a request to launch criminal proceedings against officers involved in the incidents discussed during the June news conference.
Chief Dagher said the police service is working closely with Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.
He acknowledged that addressing racial profiling and discrimination is a long-term, step-by-step process, but said the police service is moving forward with reforms.
Rebuilding Public Trust Is the Biggest Challenge
For the Montreal police service, the biggest challenge now is not only determining whether disciplinary action should be taken against officers under investigation, but also rebuilding public trust, particularly among residents of Montreal North.
Police leadership says it is seeking lasting improvements through transparent investigations, officer accountability, direct engagement with communities and changes to existing policies.
The outcome of the ongoing investigations and the implementation of the proposed reforms will likely play an important role in determining whether the police service can rebuild trust among communities that have raised concerns about racial profiling and discrimination.
