Montreal police creates new squad in the fight against rising gun crime
Montreal police are using $7 million in funds from the Quebec government to create a new anti-gun squad that they say will be operational later this year to combat a rise in gun crime on the island.
Following a year where there’s been a marked increase in shootings, Montreal police say they’re learning more and more about people who obtain guns illegally.
“For them, it means power. It means to be able to impose their will on somebody else on the territory,” said Insp. David Shane.
Police say that’s driving up the value of black-market handguns, now going for about $5,000 to buy one on the street. The price tag has quadrupled in the last five years.
“What we’re told is that they use their illegal activities to raise that money and invest it to acquire firearms. It’s as simple as that,” Shane said, adding that criminals are using social media to post warnings to their rivals.
“They don’t have to search for them in the streets, they just have to put it out on social media.”
In response, police are launching a new squad to investigate gun crime called Équipes multisectorielles dédiées aux armes à feu, or EMAF. It’s supposed to be up and running in late November and will concentrate mainly on the northeast and the southwest regions of the city.
“They’ll be called to events where there are instances where there are gunshots where there’s attempted murders. They will work when citizens call Info-crime and say this person is walking with a gun in their belt,” Shane said.
Police wouldn’t give specific details of how the squad will work.
However, a Concordia University professor said it will be similar to the anti-gun squad at the Toronto Police Service, which he said has been controversial.
“The primary aspects of that model in Toronto have been at the centre of the storm around carding or racial profiling,” said Ted Rutland, who teaches urban security and policing at Concordia.
“It’s really difficult to actually pinpoint someone who’s about to commit a gun crime, so sending in more resources just means arresting a whole bunch of people who fit a certain image.”
Montreal police insist their goal is to be closer to the community in the hope people will trust them when there are shootings.
Right now, they say, too many people including, victims of gun crimes, are scared of the police.
“They don’t want to be seen as an informant or somebody that cooperates with the police force,” said Shane.
Montreal is already on track to surpass the number of gun crimes involving a firearm, according to data provided to CTV News by the SPVM. By the end of August, there have been 39 gun-related crimes. By this time in 2020, there were 38, and 33 in 2019.
The data covers all types crimes in which a firearm was present, whether real or fake and whether it was used or not.
Police won’t say how many officers will be working in the new EMAF team or whether they’ll be taken away from other squads.
There is already a shortage of about 300 officers on the force.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
TREND LINE Trudeau Liberals 'under siege' across the country, with Conservatives cracking red 'fortresses' like Toronto and Vancouver: Nanos
Hot on the heels of the Conservatives’ stunning byelection victory in the riding of Toronto—St. Paul’s, new seat projection data from Nanos Research show ridings considered previously safe for the Liberals are increasingly up for grabs.
Is homemade sunscreen safe to use? Here's why it's 'a horrible idea,' according to experts
If you could make sunscreen with items found in your kitchen pantry, should you do it? Posts from social media influencers and bloggers including recipes to make your own sunscreen have been wildly circulated online, but the dermatologists who spoke to CTVNews.ca call it a 'horrible idea.'
New charges against Frank Stronach involve 7 additional complainants: court documents
Court documents show billionaire businessman Frank Stronach stands accused of sexually assaulting seven additional complainants from 1977 to as recently as February.
Ontario MPP removed from PC caucus over 'serious lapses in judgment'
Premier Doug Ford has removed a member of his caucus due to what he’s describing as 'serious lapses in judgment.' In a statement released Friday morning, the premier’s office said MPP Goldie Ghamari had been removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus 'effective immediately.'
Need multiple alarms to wake up in the morning? Here's what could be happening, according to experts
If you are clogging your clock app with multiple morning alarms, you’re setting yourself up for a groggy morning, experts say.
Biden concedes debate fumbles but declares he will defend democracy. Dems stick by him ─ for now
U.S. President Joe Biden forcefully tried on Friday to quell Democratic anxieties over his unsteady showing in his debate with former President Donald Trump, as elected members of his party closed ranks around him in an effort to shut down talk of replacing him atop the ticket.
Russia to prepare a 'response' to U.S. drones over Black Sea
Russia's defence minister ordered officials to prepare a 'response' to U.S. drone flights over the Black Sea, the ministry said Friday, in an apparent warning that Moscow may take forceful action to ward off the American reconnaissance aircraft.
'His heart still beats on': Young track star remembered for giving the gift of life
Not a day goes by when Scott and Amanda Cadman don’t think about their son Kirk.
Critics say end of safe consumption services in northern Ont. will strain health system, lead to more deaths
The northeast’s only remaining supervised consumption site, Safe Health Site Timmins, is shutting down its safe consumption services at the end of the month.