Montreal police to get public's input on next police chief
Montreal police (SPVM) will hold public consultations ahead of picking its new chief –- a novel approach for the force, which was encouraged to include community input during a recent forum on armed violence.
The process to find a new chief of police began on March 25 with Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante saying consultations will take into account the views of police employees, young people and community groups.
Montreal’s executive committee and the public security commission have already recommended the candidacy of Sophie Roy as interim chief.
Roy will become the first woman to hold the position in the history of the Montreal police. It is rare that an interim chief becomes the permanent top cop.
Retired inspector André Durocher said last week this fact may hamper Roy's ability to tackle major concerns in the city, such as gun violence.
"It's very hard for an interim chief to proceed to major revamping or anything because out of respect for the next chief, you don't want to stir things up too much," he said. "Right now in Montreal, there are a lot of concerns regarding racial profiling, there are concerns regarding the numerous shootings and violence, so there's a lot of challenges out there."
Durocher notes if anyone can work on these and other issues, it's Roy.
"She's got great inside knowledge of the SPVM," he said.
Current chief Sylvain Caron announced last month that he plans to leave office next Friday -- well before the end of his five-year mandate, which was to end in 2023.
Caron says he is stepping away for personal reasons and is retiring after more than 40 years on the force.
-- This report was first published by The Canadian Press in French with files from CTV News’ Daniel J. Rowe on April 19, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Moe 'will respond' to CRA, insists Saskatchewan has 'paid in full' amid carbon tax audit
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government 'will respond' to the Canada Revenue Agency when it concludes its audit of the province, but that his position is Saskatchewan doesn't owe Ottawa any money.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
BREAKING Hosting Vancouver's FIFA World Cup games could cost half a billion dollars
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.