The SPVM will deploy 12 additional police officers in Montreal’s metro network this fall as part of a broader plan involving the city, the Société de transport de Montréal and social-service partners.
The measures announced by Montreal and the STM are intended to strengthen safety, improve coordination during incidents and support people experiencing vulnerability in the transit system ahead of the winter season.
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What the SPVM is adding to the metro
The 12 officers will be deployed while the city gradually recruits 52 additional special constables for the STM.
The new constables are expected to be in place by the end of 2027, bringing the STM’s total to 230.
The city says the interim police deployment will increase patrol frequency, maintain coverage at stations identified as critical and help reduce response times.
The announcement did not identify the individual stations that will receive the additional police presence.
The SPVM’s metro section already patrols trains, platforms, station areas and locations around stations, while responding to calls and supporting STM personnel.
Six measures planned for Montreal’s metro
The police deployment is one part of a six-part package announced by the city and the STM.
| Measure | Timing or target |
|---|---|
| Additional special constables | 52 added progressively by the end of 2027 |
| SPVM deployment | 12 additional officers beginning in fall 2026 |
| Surveillance upgrade | $3 million investment in the operations monitoring centre |
| EMIC expansion | Metro intervention brigades increasing from two to six |
| Social-support teams | Two winter teams operating seven days a week |
| More frequent service | Five per cent increase planned from the 2027 rentrée |
The STM will invest $3 million to modernize its Centre de répartition et de vigie des opérations.
The upgrade is expected to increase the number of cameras that can be monitored in real time across a network containing about 2,500 cameras.
The goal is to help staff identify incidents more quickly, coordinate responses with the SPVM and improve the monitoring of disorder and other security concerns.
More resources for vulnerable people
The Équipe métro d’intervention et de concertation, known as EMIC, will expand from two brigades to six.
The additional coverage is expected to be especially visible during evening hours in winter.
EMIC brings together police, STM personnel and social-service expertise to respond to people experiencing significant vulnerability in the metro.
The expanded model is intended to improve coordination while reducing the reliance on police-only responses to complex social situations.
The city and STM also announced a partnership with Ambulance Saint-Jean to add social workers and other support personnel to the network beginning in fall 2026.
During the winter, two teams made up of a supervisor, a social worker and a vigilance and liaison officer are expected to operate seven days a week.
One team is expected to remain active during the rest of the year.
Service increase planned for 2027
The city also plans to increase metro service by five per cent beginning with the 2027 rentrée, with a focus that includes evening operations.
Officials say more frequent trains should reduce waiting times and make evening travel more predictable.
The city described the planned increase as the STM’s largest service expansion since 2017.
The safety package also includes the creation of a new STM direction responsible for security and organizational resilience.
Martin Prud’homme, who has more than 30 years of experience with the Sûreté du Québec, the SPVM, Quebec’s public security ministry and the City of Montreal, will lead the new branch.
What happens next
The 12 additional SPVM officers are expected to arrive in the network during fall 2026, while the recruitment and deployment of special constables will continue through 2027.
The surveillance-centre modernization, the EMIC expansion and the social-support partnership are also expected to roll out during the fall and winter period.
The measures come as Montreal and the STM continue to address safety concerns, incidents involving vulnerable people and the broader challenge of maintaining a comfortable environment for transit users and employees.
The success of the plan will depend on how quickly the new resources become operational, how they are distributed across the network and whether the combined police, security and social-service approach improves both actual response capacity and passengers’ sense of safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many additional SPVM officers are being added to Montreal’s metro?
The SPVM will deploy 12 additional officers in the metro network during fall 2026.
How many special constables will the STM add?
The city plans to add 52 special constables progressively by the end of 2027, bringing the STM’s total to 230.
What is EMIC’s role in the Montreal metro?
EMIC combines police, transit and social-service expertise to support people experiencing vulnerability and respond to complex situations in the metro.
Will Montreal metro service increase?
The city plans to increase metro service by five per cent beginning with the 2027 rentrée, including more frequent service in the evening.
How much will the STM invest in surveillance upgrades?
The STM plans to invest $3 million to modernize its operations monitoring centre and improve real-time camera surveillance.
Fact-Checked: Key details were checked against the City of Montreal’s official announcement and official SPVM and STM information pages.
Disclaimer: The planned deployments and service increases remain subject to implementation timelines and operational decisions by the city, SPVM and STM.