Montreal police chief Fady Dagher said Friday that six officers have been suspended as the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal investigates allegations of discriminatory and racist conduct, along with separate claims of serious internal misconduct.
The update came during a news conference at SPVM headquarters on October 30, 2026, after the police service published a timeline of the investigations and said it would continue pursuing the facts with transparency and firmness.
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What Fady Dagher said about the investigations
Fady Dagher said the allegations involve members of the teams assigned to neighbourhood police stations 39 in Montréal-Nord and 21 in downtown Montreal.
“The truth will never go unpunished,” Dagher said, according to an account of the news conference.
He warned that some evidence that may eventually become public could be difficult to watch, while emphasizing that the investigations must be completed before the SPVM confirms every detail.
The chief also said the police service was developing a new action plan with community participation.
He indicated that more information about the plan is expected near the end of November or at the beginning of December.
Six suspensions linked to separate files
According to the SPVM’s timeline, the police service first learned of allegations involving a team at Station 39 in March 2026.
The information came from inside the organization, and an investigation was opened immediately.
On June 12, the SPVM suspended two officers, reassigned three others to administrative work and relocated the rest of the team.
A third Station 39 officer was suspended on June 18, followed by a fourth suspension effective August 19.
The police service also recorded two suspensions connected to Station 21.
A fifth officer was suspended on August 26 over alleged misconduct in the downtown area, while a sixth was suspended on September 8 in connection with the main Station 39 file.
The SPVM said the main file concerning alleged discriminatory and racist acts was forwarded to Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions, known as the DPCP, on September 28.
Separate criminal investigation involving domestic violence file
The SPVM also confirmed on October 29 that a criminal investigation had been opened into a Station 39 officer over alleged acts of prevarication and obstruction of justice related to a 2025 domestic violence incident.
The officer had already been reassigned to administrative duties without contact with the public as of June 12, the police service said.
The SPVM has not announced criminal charges, and the allegations have not been tested in court.
Dagher said the service must establish the facts before confirming what happened in that case.
Reports about the alleged handling of evidence have circulated publicly, but the police chief said the investigation remains ongoing.
Why the case matters for public confidence
The allegations have placed renewed pressure on the SPVM to demonstrate that complaints involving police officers are investigated independently and that misconduct leads to meaningful consequences.
The police service acknowledged that the events of recent months have shaken public confidence.
It said discriminatory or inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated either within the organization or in police interactions with residents.
For residents, the next significant developments are expected to come from the criminal and internal investigations, the DPCP’s review of the main file and the action plan Dagher said would be developed with community input.
The SPVM said people who want to file a complaint about an officer can contact the organization at 514-280-0200.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Fady Dagher?
Fady Dagher is the director of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal, commonly known as the SPVM.
How many Montreal police officers have been suspended?
The SPVM says six officers have been suspended in connection with the files involving Stations 39 and 21.
What is being investigated at Station 39?
The investigation concerns allegations of discriminatory and racist conduct involving members of a Station 39 team in Montréal-Nord.
Was an officer charged in the domestic violence investigation?
No criminal charge has been announced. The SPVM says a criminal investigation is underway and that the officer was reassigned to administrative duties.
What happens next in the SPVM case?
The investigations will continue, while Dagher says the police service is preparing an action plan with community participation for late November or early December.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the SPVM’s official October 30, 2026 investigation update and the public account of Fady Dagher’s news conference.
Disclaimer: The allegations described in this article remain under investigation, and no finding of criminal responsibility has been made unless stated otherwise.