Of the 369 investigations launched by the Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) since its creation in 2016, only two have resulted in charges against police officers, even though the organization costs taxpayers more than $8 million each year.
The first file dates back to July 2020, when an agent from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) arrested a 30-year-old man in Saint-Cyrille-de-Wendover, in Center-du-Québec. .
The police officer had to use force to control the suspect who did not want to comply, leading to the individual losing consciousness in front of the amazed eyes of a relative who was filming the scene.
- Listen to the press review commented by Alexandre Dubé via QUB :
Another SQ police officer was also targeted by charges following a chase in which she was involved and which left two seriously injured in August 2022. The driver she tried to intercept in Coteau- du-Lac, in Montérégie, refused to stop, hitting another vehicle coming in the opposite direction as he fled.
It should be noted, however, that the peace officer was acquitted of the assault charge he faced, while the police officer was only charged with a Highway Traffic offense punishable by a fine. from $1000 to $3000. She is due back in court for her trial on February 19.
The Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) had launched an investigation into the intervention of the Quebec police during which a suspect died on March 20, 2023, at the corner of Chemin Ste-Foy and Avenue Chèvremont in Quebec.
Archive photo, Jérémy Bernier
Good news?
Of the 369 investigations initiated by the BEI, 53 are still ongoing or being analyzed by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). This means that 0.64% of the organization’s independent investigations led to accusations.
“In my eyes, it is still good news that there are so few. This is proof that police practices are effective,” said former Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) agent Roger Ferland.
But questions arise as government organization costs more and more each year. Growing from $1.7 million when it was created in 2016, its expenditure reached $8.7 million in public funds in 2023.
Mr. Ferland believes that the creation of the BEI comes from a desire for transparency in the police sector and that restoring public confidence has a cost. However, he believes that the range of files processed should be reduced, to improve the efficiency of the organization and reduce costs.
“There are cases where there is evidence, particularly concerning victims who already have a documented psychiatric past, where we should decide not to investigate,” explains Mr. Ferland.
“By wanting to be transparent, we end up seeing through the paper quite a bit,” he imagines.
Roger Ferland, former police officer of the Quebec City Police Department.
Archive photo, QMI Agency
Criminal allegations
Note that in addition to independent investigations, the BEI looks into all allegations of sexual misconduct committed by police officers and criminal offenses committed by a police officer against a member of the First Nations.
Of the 160 files that the BEI has looked into since 2016, the majority are part of this second category, because all situations involving peace officers and indigenous people are automatically referred to the BEI.
A total of 22 investigations of criminal allegations have led to charges so far, while 29 files are still being analyzed by the DPCP.
The director of the BEI was not able to grant us an interview on this subject on Monday.
Independent BEI investigations
- Files that did not lead to any charges: 314
- Files where charges were filed by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP): 2
- Files still under study by the DPCP: 17
- Ongoing investigations: 36
- Total: 369 surveys between 2016 and January 31, 2024.
Annual BEI expenditures ($)
- 2016: 1,675,300
- 2017: 3,540,000
- 2018: 4,697,900
- 2019: 5,515,200
- 2020: 8,195,000
- 2021: 9,043,000
- 2022: 8,301,000
- 2023: 8,743,000
Source: EIB