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
Liberal MP says she's leaving politics over disrespectful dialogue, threats, misogyny
Liberal MP Pam Damoff says she won't run again in the next federal election, saying she has experienced misogyny, disrespectful dialogue in politics and threats to her life.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Poilievre returns to House unrepentant for calling Trudeau 'wacko,' Speaker not resigning
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
A teen was found buried in a basement in New York. An engraved ring helped police learn her identity two decades later
Investigators have finally revealed the identity of an unknown victim nicknamed 'Midtown Jane Doe,' who was found in the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City two decades ago.