Reinforcements arrive at UPAC | Press

The organization, which has become a fully-fledged independent police service, can now hire its own police officers

Vincent Larouche
Press

After a decade of operating with police officers on loan from other organizations, often for short periods of time, the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC) swore in its own police investigators for the first time on Friday. An initiative aimed at bringing a little stability within an organization handicapped by a high rate of staff turnover since its inception.

In all, 18 seasoned police investigators, most of them already retired or on the verge of retirement, have agreed to come in and join the ranks of the organization, which is trying to rebuild its credibility after several controversies and defeats in court. these last years.

At the end of a week of integration activities at the National Police School of Quebec, they all took the oath together on Friday and received their silver investigator badge from the hands of Commissioner Frédérick Gaudreau.

“From next week, they will be operational. Their teams are already assigned. Monday they go out on investigative projects. And yesterday, I reiterated to them that we have projects! », Declared Mr. Gaudreau on the sidelines of the event.

By their complex nature, UPAC investigations often span over many years. However, the organization had to operate from its inception with police officers on loan from the Sûreté du Québec and municipal police forces, most of whom returned to their organization after two or three years. Files changed hands far too often.

Increased stability

To ensure greater stability in anti-corruption investigations, the CAQ government has made the organization a full-fledged independent police service that can now for the first time hire its own police officers.

After the first cohort of law enforcement veterans who were sworn in on Friday, UPAC management hopes to hire university graduates interested in the fight against corruption within a year who will have access to accelerated training lasting a few months. to become investigating police officers without having to go through the patrol, as is historically the case in Quebec. They will be paid during their training.

These future recruits will have to go through the National Police Academy to be trained in particular on the use of force and the safe conduct of searches. UPAC managers remember an operation by the Sûreté du Québec’s Organized Financial Crime Investigation Department in 2006, which targeted a network that produced false invoices to evade the tax authorities. During a search, one of the suspects opened fire and injured a police officer, before being shot, proof that investigations into white-collar crimes also sometimes carry their share of risk.

Commissioner Frédérick Gaudreau also wants to continue welcoming police officers on loan from other organizations in the future. “It’s beneficial for our organization to see each other’s ways of working and it’s beneficial for other organizations that want to contribute to the effort,” he says.

Motivated newcomers

Patrick Laplante, former lieutenant in operational support at the Sûreté du Québec

“It’s stimulating and motivating to come back to a niche that needs love! ”, Launches the one who already made a four-year stay on loan of service within the UPAC a few years ago. “If I didn’t believe in the mission, I wouldn’t be here. It’s a challenge, too. The stratagems have become more sophisticated, it is more and more known, it represents many challenges. ”

Caroline Mayrand, former sexual assault investigator at Longueuil police

“I just can’t wait to start Monday! Says the one who decided to change organization after only 14 years in the police force, including 7 years as an investigator. I love investigations, I eat them, that’s always what I wanted to do as a police officer. What interests me about UPAC is that these are extremely complex investigations. It requires expertise, we are called upon to learn, renew and adapt, ”she explains.

François Coiteux, former fraud investigator and expert in arms trafficking at the SPVM

“All the police forces have their failures”, underlines the one who says not to be frightened by the recent collapses of the UPAC in front of the courts. “I think what we have to do is roll up our sleeves and ask, ‘What are we missing? What can we do better? ” We do not have a choice ! He said. “Everyone here has their expertise, taken left and right. It’s a very difficult niche, but together, we’re going to be better at tackling it. ”