After firing seven officers in a first for Montreal police, chief promises trust-rebuilding plan by year-end

How Montreal police will rebuild public trust after firing seven officers in a single day is the question of the day. Police Chief Fady Dagher announced on November 2 the administrative dismissal of seven officers — five from Station 39 in Montréal-Nord and two from Station 21 downtown — over allegations of racist and discriminatory conduct and mistreatment of vulnerable people. Dagher called it the first time the force has fired so many officers at once. None of the seven has been criminally charged; the cases have been handed to Quebec's Crown prosecution office to decide whether charges should be laid.

The basis: their good-character accreditation was withdrawn

According to CBC and Radio-Canada, the police service, after consulting city lawyers, concluded the officers no longer met the good-character requirement under section 115 of the Police Act and withdrew their police accreditation and security clearances, then dismissed them administratively. The seven turned in their guns and badges and will receive no compensation; if they seek work with another Quebec police force, they are legally required to disclose that they were investigated and dismissed. Six of the seven had already been suspended. Dagher said the officers involved represent about one percent of the force, and that Station 39 has about 126 to 128 officers, five of whom were dismissed.

Chief promises action plan by year-end and community consultations

Speaking to CBC on November 3, Dagher said accountability mattered not only to the public but to the rest of the force. A trust-rebuilding action plan is being drawn up, expected by the end of December, covering revisions to recruitment, training and promotion, with community consultations planned, especially with the community served by Station 39. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said in a statement that the police service had made the right decision and that the step was aimed at rebuilding public trust.

Skeptics: firing seven does not fix the root problem

Researchers and community advocates told Global News, however, that announcing seven dismissals is not in itself evidence that the institutional conditions allowing the misconduct have changed. Daniele-Jocelyne Otou, executive director of Montreal's Black Healing Centre, and others questioned whether the force is addressing the underlying issues; the Official Opposition at city hall, Projet Montréal, said firing seven officers is the bare minimum and does not address the root problem. The Montreal Police Brotherhood has said it will challenge the dismissals. Prosecutors are also investigating another Station 39 officer who, according to Radio-Canada sources, allegedly deleted evidence from a victim's phone in a 2025 domestic violence case. The allegations against the seven surfaced earlier this year; criminal, ethics and disciplinary processes continue, and whether charges will be laid remains to be decided.

(Sources: CBC News, Global News, Radio-Canada, CityNews.)