Montreal Police Chief Admits Past Profiling Amid Racism Scandal

Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher admitted in a recent interview that he engaged in racial profiling during the 1990s while serving with the city's anti-gang squad. Dagher, the first racialized person to lead the force, stated a conversation with a gang member prompted him to change his approach. He also noted he had been a victim of racial profiling at airports following the September 11 attacks.

These admissions follow a public meeting at city hall where residents demanded an independent investigation into systemic racism within the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal. The controversy centers on a 16-member patrol unit in Montréal-Nord that was dismantled in June after reports that officers engaged in abusive behavior, including cutting the hair of racialized citizens to keep as trophies. Three officers have been suspended and their files sent to the prosecution service, though the service noted that police have not yet requested criminal proceedings.

Dagher defended the decision to keep the current probe in-house to avoid delays, while acknowledging potential blind spots in recruitment and screening. To address the crisis, Quebec Public Security Minister Ian Lafrenière appointed an independent observer to monitor the process. While the police force has increased community outreach and deployed a new team to Montréal-Nord, some residents continue to oppose the increased security presence.