MONTREAL – “They were like, ‘You match the description of the shooter,’ and at that point, I was like, ‘You clearly got the wrong person.'”
When this 23-year-old Concordia University student was wrongfully intercepted by police in Montreal last March, all he wanted was an apology.
When police officers realized that they made a mistake they didn’t even apologize.
“I’m responsible for the racial profiling file.”
Fady Dagher, the assistant director of the Montreal police (SPVM) saw Global News‘ story – and was clearly disappointed.
“We expect our police officers to excuse themselves.”
Watch: Racial profiling complaints up in Montreal: Part 1
Cases of racial profiling may be more prominent than ever in this province.
Complaints at the Quebec Human Rights Commission are at an all time high.
We have actually 150 active cases on police profiling,” noted Jacques Frémont, President of the Quebec Human Rights Commission.
The majority of those complaints involved Montreal police officers, but Fady Dagher disputed those numbers with recent results from SPVM satisfaction surveys.
“We still at 80, 85 per cent of the citizens are still happy with the way we serve them.”
The current police chief was the first to admit racial profiling was prevalent within the force.
Most of Montreal’s 4000 police officers went through extra training between 2007 and 2010.
But a damning report in 2011 showed racial profiling was still alive and widespread at the SPVM.
Despite 90 recommendations, a follow up report in 2012 showed little had been done by police.
“When we talk about change of culture, it takes years, and it’s a deep change inside the organization.”
Dagher admitted cases of racial or political profiling occur, and the very public actions of the police officer known as Badge 728 did nothing to help the SPVM’s reputation.
“Thank God, we don’t have many events, but one is too many.”
The biggest challenge now is restoring people’s trust in the police force.
“One of the most important things for the police department is to keep the trust,” said Dagher.
“The legitimacy of working in the society come from that trust and if we lose the trust is where we have conflict with the citizen.”
Montreal police have started a series of new efforts, like an informal training with officers.
Dr. Dorothy Williams works with CEGEP students in police technology to help break barriers.
“Really, one of the things you want to do with breaking that pattern of racial profiling is having a dialogue breaking those biases,” she said.
“Helping people to understand that you have them, what can you do when you put on that blue suit to ensure that those aren’t in play.”
But some are convinced that the solution lies in changing hiring practices at the SPVM.
All sides agree that the change won’t happen overnight.
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