Pauline Marois’ security manager during the Metropolis attack says he is still satisfied, ten years later, with the work of his team and the intelligence service of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), even if he does not was not made aware of the six threats made against the Prime Minister on the evening of the vote.
Posted at 1:56 p.m.
“Bain’s threat was unpredictable and irrational. He did not give any warning signs, ”sergeant Frédéric Desgagnés defended himself Monday morning, while testifying in the civil lawsuit brought against the SQ and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) by four survivors. of the attack. They are claiming $600,000 for injuries sustained as a result of poor security.
Sergeant Desgagnés now holds the same position as team leader of the Prime Minister’s close guard that he held on September 4, 2012, when Richard Henry Bain killed Denis Blanchette and seriously injured Dave Courage outside the Metropolis. .
If several of his superiors testified last week at the trial, it was Sergeant Desgagnés who was the boss on the ground, the evening of the attack. It was he who “validated the security plan” on the spot. It was also he who hastened to evacuate Pauline Marois on the stage when he heard an explosion. At the time, however, he thought it was the “confetti cannon” launched too early.
Essentially, the SQ followed its security protocol during the event, according to Sergeant Desgagnés. Pauline Marois was protected by four bodyguards, two others took care of her husband, eight agents from the “precursor team” protected the scene and a handful of police officers from the intelligence services mingled in the crowd to detect a threat. A total of about twenty police officers.
Among these, an agent was positioned inside in front of the back door of the Metropolis. However, no one was protecting this door on the outside, even though it was the Prime Minister’s “escape route” in case of an emergency. It is precisely there that Richard Henry Bain opened fire on the stage technicians huddled together on the stairs.
“We didn’t think it was necessary. Normally, it is provided by the outer perimeter, “sergeant Desgagnés defended himself. It was therefore up to the SPVM to make sure to protect the exterior of the building, he believes. According to several witnesses, there was no policeman in this sector to block the path of the shooter, who was nevertheless dressed in a dressing gown and a balaclava.
No SQ police officer was also protecting Pauline Marois’ escape vehicle, an unmarked vehicle. “It was not customary to leave someone in the vehicle,” explained Sergeant Desgagnés.
The head of security was only informed after the attack of the six threats made against Pauline Marois between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Two of them came from social networks. “In the event of an imminent threat to the high dignitary, I will be informed. But if it is unfounded, or not immediate, I will not be informed,” he explained.
Dave Courage is still “suffering”
Ten years after being close to death, Dave Courage is still only “surviving” on a daily basis. “I suffer every day, I deal with it, I’m not the only one who suffers. I try to stay positive. I am there for them, and they are there for me, ”he confided in a press scrum on the sidelines of the trial.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Dave Courage at the Montreal courthouse
Dave Courage was hit by the same bullet that took the life of Denis Blanchette. Her world came crashing down that night. Although he is not part of the current action, Dave Courage wanted to be present to attend the trial in order to “support” his technician friends.
“They are all my brothers, we are a family of technicians. I came here to support them morally, to be there for them,” he explained. Dave Courage’s lawsuit against the government was settled out of court a few years ago.