Montreal police have removed 16 officers from patrol duties following allegations of racial profiling and discrimination in the Montreal-Nord borough.. Mayor Christine Black has urged victims to report misconduct as the city grapples with reports of systemic abuse.

The removal of 16 officers from Station 39

The Montreal police department has dismantled a specific night patrol unit and stripped 16 officers of their patrol duties amid a probe into discriminatory behavior.. According to a report by The Canadian Press, two of these officers are currently suspended and facing investigation by Quebec prosecutors for potential Criminal Code violations, while the remaining 14 have been reassigned to roles that prevent them from interacting with the public.

This disciplinary action follows an investigation that began in March, triggered by information provided by fellow officers within the force. Police officials have indicated that the conduct in question may have breached both the force's internal disciplinary code and the broader police ethics code of Quebec.

Reports of hair-cutting 'trophies' and racial profiling

Among the most disturbing claims emerging from the investigation are reports that officers allegedly cut the hair of racialized citizens to keep as trophies . Montreal police chief Fady Dagher confirmed on Friday that these specific allegations are part of the ongoing investigation, describing the reported behavior as totally unacceptable.

Mayor Christine Black noted that these revelations have been particularly agonizing for the Black, Arab, and racialized residdents of Montreal-Nord. The nature of these allegations suggests a level of dehumanization that goes beyond standard profiling, pointing toward a targeted campaign of harassment within the northeast Montreal borough.

The shadow of Fredy Villanueva's 2008 death

The current crisis at Station 39 is not an isolated incident but part of a long history of tension in Montreal-Nord. In 2008,an unarmed 18-year-old named Fredy Villanueva was shot and killed by a police officer in a local park. While a 2013 independent public inquiry eventually ruled the shooting was legally justified as self-defense, it concluded that the use of force was unnecessary.

This pattern of systemic friction was further documented in a 2017 report which found that racial profiling was widespread during traffic stops conducted by the Montreal police. As reported by The Canadian Press, many residents feel that the culture of impunity has persisted for nearly two decades, making the current allegations feel like a continuation of an old narrative.

Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada's push for body-worn cameras

In response to the outcry, Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada has pledged to accelerate the deployment of body-worn cameras for police officers to increase accountability. Simultaneously, Dimitrios Jim Beis, the city official responsible for public safety, has stated that rebuilding confidence will require difficult, direct conversations with community groups who have lost faith in the institution.

However, local residents like Marc Lamotte have expressed skepticism, suggesting that for young people in Montreal-Nord who already distrust the police, official promises may not be enough to encourage them to come forward as witnesses.

The internal whistleblowers of the March investigation

While the police department has taken action, several critical details remain unknown, most notably the identity and motivations of the fellow officers who reported the misconduct in March. it remains unclear whether these whistleblowers acted independently or as part of a wider internal effort to purge the night patrol unit of problematic elements.

Furthermore , the Montreal police union has defended the accused officers, maintaining they are innocent until proven guilty. this tension between the union's defense and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association's call for a full public inquiry leaves the community wondering if the internal disciplinary process is sufficient to achieve true justice.