Montreal Police Fire Seven Officers Over Discriminatory Misconduct and Racism

OTTAWA, Nov 2 (OPA) — Montreal police chief Fady Dagher announced the dismissals during a press conference on Monday, stating that the force broke a cultural silence to enact exceptional measures. Dagher emphasized that the dismissed officers committed deliberate, malicious actions rather than accidental errors, acting in the interest of public security. The terminations follow a series of ongoing internal investigations into police misconduct.

The allegations involve criminal behavior and racism, notably within a patrol unit operating in Montreal North that was dismantled during the summer. Internal probes began in March after complaints surfaced alleging officers cut the hair of racialized citizens and retained it as trophies. Additional dismissals affected a downtown station where two officers faced suspension in recent months for alleged discriminatory actions.

Chief Dagher warned the public on Friday that upcoming evidence from ongoing misconduct inquiries will prove catastrophic, signaling that additional disciplinary actions remain likely. Investigations across the department have uncovered multiple severe infractions, including an officer allegedly concealing evidence in a 2025 domestic violence case by deleting victim phone footage.

Further scandals emerging from the department involve an officer accused of urinating on an unhoused person and another who allegedly posed for photographs mocking detained suspects in humiliating positions. Police authorities continue to review internal operations as public scrutiny intensifies over accountability within the municipal force.