Montreal police creates new squad to combat gun violence
Montreal police (SPVM) says it intends to launch a new squad, ARRÊT (Action – Répression – Résolution – Engagement – Terrain), to combat gun violence in the city.
Based on numbers from the SPVM, violent acts involving guns have skyrocketed since 2016.
That year, there were 11 homicides, 21 attempted homicides and 61 firearms discharges that did not injure or kill anyone.
In 2021, the numbers increased to 19 homicides, 52 attempted homicides and 144 shootings.
By the end of July 2022, there were nine homicides, 32 attempted homicides and 80 shootings.
The SPVM says it plans to assign 68 officers from various backgrounds to the new squad.
"Its mission will be to disrupt the activities of violent criminal groups by occupying the field, gathering intelligence and intervening directly with their members," the SPVM said in a news release.
The force will also increase manpower in its ECLIPSE squad, which focuses on violent crimes.
LABOUR SHORTAGE
This comes two days after the Quebec government announced it would give $250 million ($45 million per year) to adding 225 officers in Montreal.
The City of Montreal plans to chip in and raise that number to 450 officers.
However, the plan comes as Quebec policing faces a major labour shortage.
Scott Darragh, chair of the police tech program at John Abbott College, says every year, the National Policing School of Quebec in Nicolet has 750 graduates -- 200 fewer than what is needed to replace officers leaving their jobs.
"Every police service, like other fields at present, is vying for candidates," he said. "Like every other industry, all the police services are suffering the need for human resources and recruits."
In addition, not all graduates stay in the province.
Darragh says some find work with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Toronto Police Department.
"I can say that we are being solicited more than ever from Ontario services due to our great reputation and the fact that our officers are bilingual," he said.
Quebec Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault said last weekend the government is opening 72 new spots at the province's police academy to increase the number of recruits.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cisco reveals security breach, warns of state-sponsored spy campaign
State-sponsored actors targeted security devices used by governments around the world, according to technology firm Cisco Systems, which said the network devices are coveted intrusion points by spies.
I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'oesn't get' the global phenomenom.
opinion RFK Jr.'s presidential candidacy and its potential threat to Biden and Trump
Although it's still unclear how much damage Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s candidacy can do to either Joe Biden or Donald Trump this election, Washington political columnist Eric Ham says what is clear is both sides recognize the potential threat.
Student anti-war protesters dig in as faculties condemn university leadership over calling police
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war at at universities across U.S., some of whom have clashed with police in riot gear, dug in Saturday and vowed to keep their demonstrations going, while several school faculties condemned university presidents who have called in law enforcement to remove protesters.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Hamas is reviewing an Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as possible Rafah offensive looms
Hamas said Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Egypt intensified efforts to broker a deal to end the months-long war and stave off a possible Israeli ground offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
'The world is too messy for bureaucratic hurdles': Canada still bars Afghanistan aid
Ottawa has plans to finally stop blocking Canadian development aid to Afghanistan this year.
Harvey Weinstein due back in court, while a key witness weighs whether to testify at a retrial
Harvey Weinstein will appear in a New York City court next week, the first step in potentially retrying the film mogul after his 2020 rape conviction was overturned.