Police ethics commissioner reviewing Montreal racism allegations

Police watch over Anti police brutality protesters outside Montreal police station 39 in Montreal North during an anti police brutality protest on Monday June 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe

Quebec’s police ethics commissioner says it is reviewing a complaint about serious allegations of racism and misconduct by Montreal police officers filed by a civil rights advocacy group.

The Red Coalition asked the commissioner to investigate the allegations made public by Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher on June 12, when he announced the dismantling of a 16-member night patrol unit in a multicultural neighbourhood. The police force said there could be criminal charges.

In correspondence shared with The Canadian Press, the commissioner’s office told the Red Coalition it opened a file on Wednesday morning. 

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The coalition had requested an investigation after the Montreal police department announced last week it had dismantled a night patrol unit in the Montréal-Nord neighbourhood.

Red Coalition founder Joel DeBellefeuille says the City of Montreal and the police force are responsible for the conduct of their officers.

“The issue is greater than just the officers. This has been going on for multiple decades,” he said. “Now the entire police force is facing down the barrel of the ethics commissioner.”

The allegations laid out in the complaint say that officers from Station 39 in Montréal-Nord racially profiled and harassed residents and retaliated against employees who reported the alleged abuses.

The office of the ethics commissioner would not confirm to The Canadian Press whether it is investigating, saying it would only do so if an officer is referred to the administrative tribunal on police ethics.

DeBellefeuille says the Red Coalition also filed a complaint with the human rights commission. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2026.

Erika Morris, The Canadian Press