Fady Dagher intends to favor a more inclusive police service, capable of finding a balance between repression and prevention. The future director of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) admits, however, that he is taking a “huge risk” by accepting his new role.
“Fady represents the future of the police,” argued Mayor Valérie Plante, praising the track record and avant-garde of her new recruit.
For Fady Dagher, it is a return to the fold since he worked for 25 years at the SPVM before agreeing to take the helm of the Longueuil agglomeration police department (SPAL) in 2017. coming to Montreal, I know very well what I am getting into,” assured Fady Dagher at a press conference with the mayor. “But I’m taking a huge risk because everything was going well in Longueuil. »
Fady Dagher had not yet submitted his application for this position. He had also renewed his contract with SPAL last December for an eight-year term. Thursday, he confirmed having received an invitation from Martin Prud’homme, deputy director of the City of Montreal.
Before the Commission de la sécurité publique in the morning, Mr. Dagher presented the approach he intended to put forward in his mandate at the SPVM. In 2022, the population is less homogeneous than in the 1980s and 1990s, he said from the outset. The SPVM must therefore serve “the entire population and all populations”, taking into account citizens on the way of marginalization and those of immigrant origin.
But the SPVM must also be able to work with partners. “A police service that works in humility, in modesty, on an equal footing with partners, community groups and institutions,” he said. “I say it often, 70% to 80% of our calls are related to mental health and social aspects. It is not true that our police officers are better placed than our partners to respond to them. It takes consultation. »
Fady Dagher emphasized the need to build bridges with the population. But to do this, it is necessary to find “proactive solutions” upstream, before the crises. According to him, we must ensure a balance between repression and prevention.
Last year, Mr. Dagher set up the RESO (Social and Organizational Mutual Aid Network) project in Longueuil. This program aims to bring police officers closer to the reality experienced by certain more vulnerable clienteles. Could this program be implemented in Montreal? “I don’t know,” he replied. Don’t fall into the trap of copying and pasting. Rather, it is necessary to assess the particularities, sector by sector. »
The challenges ahead
The SPVM is struggling with recruitment difficulties, but Fady Dagher maintains that to attract and keep police officers, you have to be frank and transparent when hiring. “I think it’s extremely important to have a moral contract from day one,” he said.
He also recognizes that the task imposed on the police is heavy and that they are often called upon to intervene in cases related to mental health. “It’s amazing how 911 is made into a catch-all. We get all kinds of calls,” he said. “Our police are not equipped. It is not up to them to solve the problems of society as a whole. »
The issue of profiling should also be closely examined. “I’ve been thinking about this problem for years. I even publicly admitted that I had done racial profiling,” he explained. “I did it completely unconsciously. I didn’t even realize it until I became a victim myself. There, I understood. That’s why, in my opinion, the vast majority of police officers who do it are not even aware that they are doing it. It’s very insidious. We must open discussions, difficult discussions. »
The appointment of Fady Dagher as head of the SPVM will have to be ratified by the city council and the agglomeration council and receive the approval of the Quebec government, which should materialize in January.
Former SPVM director Marc Parent believes that the arrival of Mr. Dagher could have a beneficial effect on the recruitment of new police officers. “To see a racialized person at the head of the SPVM could encourage young people to make the police profession their career choice,” he said.
“He is a manager of the XXIe century. Mr. Dagher is the right person for the right job at the right time,” said Alain Babineau, former RCMP officer and director of public security for the Red Coalition. According to him, Fady Dagher will have a lot to do to engage the SPVM in a change of culture and the Brotherhood of police officers may give him a hard time. “But at the same time, Mr. Dagher knows her”.
Moreover, the Brotherhood cautiously commented on the appointment of the new leader on social networks. “The Fraternity wishes Mr. Fady Dagher a warm welcome and the best of luck. It is with openness and an outstretched hand that the Brotherhood nevertheless reminds us that in addition to armed violence, other major challenges await it. »
Opposition leader Aref Salem, who sat on the selection committee, hailed Fady Dagher’s candor, but his expectations are high of the future director, particularly in terms of handling the armed violence. “He will have to live up to what Montrealers expect,” he said.