The former big boss of the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Martin Prud’homme, will become the first deputy director of urban security for the City of Montreal, a new administrative position created by the administration of Valérie Plante.
The appointment of Mr. Prud’homme, first reported by Radio-Canada, will be ratified by the executive committee on Wednesday morning.
Former director of the SQ, Martin Prud’homme had experienced a difficult end to his mandate after a committee of experts recommended his dismissal. At the time, Martin Prud’homme said he was the victim of a “vast fishing trip aimed at [l]”associate with media leaks” of the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit (UPAC), because of his friendship with Laval MP Guy Ouellette and his family ties with former UPAC commissioner Robert Lafrenière, whom he is the son-in-law.
After a two-year suspension, Mr. Prud’homme finally reached an agreement with the government in 2021 to retire. Quebec then withdrew its request for an ethics investigation from the Public Service Commission.
The appointment of Martin Prud’homme as deputy director of urban security will be confirmed Wednesday at 11 a.m. by Mayor Plante during a press conference at City Hall. The creation of this new position was announced last February by the administration, which said it wanted to make urban security a priority in the wake of the outbreak of armed violence in the metropolis.
Mr. Prud’homme’s duties will be administrative and he will report to the City’s Director General, Serge Lamontagne. The new unit will oversee the activities of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the Montreal Fire Department (SIM), the Registry and Legal Affairs.
Further details will follow.
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