(Quebec) The Service de police de la Ville de Quebec (SPVQ) is interested in the video of a third intervention that recently occurred on its territory, but refuses to say for the moment whether the agent we see there also involved in the muscular arrests in Dagobert and Portofino.
“Do you want me to gauze you, my osti?” These words are those of a Quebec policeman, uttered just before he throws a man against a police car.
The video of this scene – which offers very little context – was shared extensively on social media. The event seems to date from a few weeks since there are leaves on the trees. But it resurfaced in the wake of the controversies affecting the police service in the capital.
The SPVQ indicates that it has been informed. “We were already notified. It was sent to our professional standards. We manage it individually from the other two ”, indicates a spokesperson for the SPVQ, Marie-Pier Rivard.
“Whether there is going to be an internal investigation, it is not officially declared, but the video has been sent. It is in verification, ”she adds.
The SPVQ is already conducting two internal investigations into violent arrests that occurred a few hours apart on its territory, that of two teenagers in front of the Dagobert bar, then that of a man who was eating at the Portofino restaurant.
The Deputy Premier of Quebec Geneviève Guilbault also asked the Police Ethics Commissioner to look into the two interventions that occurred during the night from Friday to Saturday.
The SPVQ announced on Tuesday the suspension with pay of five police officers concerning the arrest of Dagobert. But three of the five agents were also involved in the Portofino incident. All these police officers are part of the GRIPP squad, assigned to monitoring bars.
The SPVQ refuses to say for the moment whether the policeman we see pushing the man in the new video was also present during the two muscular interventions.
“It’s an evolving situation that we face. There is additional information. Regarding this third video, we are at the very beginning ”, indicates Mme Rivard.
Marchand supports the police chief
The mayor of Quebec also reiterated on Tuesday his confidence in the head of his police department, Denis Turcotte.
“I totally trust the police chief. Its actions so far have been the right ones, ”said Bruno Marchand.
The mayor repeated several times that he had not exerted any pressure which would have led to the decision to suspend the five police officers. He cites the importance of having a “Chinese wall” between the town hall and the police.
He says he supports the chief’s decision to suspend five police officers. “It’s a decision of the police chief. It is her decision, I support her. But this is not a request from the town hall. ”
During their discussions, the police chief “reassured him about the organizational culture” of the SPVQ. “He reassured me of his willingness to take action. That’s what he did. He reassured me of his willingness to say that any reprehensible act will be punished, will not be tolerated. ”
The fact that three of the five suspended police officers participated in the two interventions, at Dagobert and Portofino, is “serious” according to Bruno Marchand. “It’s definitely a bad night. It is very worrying. ”
Did you witness the intervention that we see in this video? Do not hesitate to write to our journalist: [email protected]
With Mayssa Ferah