It was flanked by a line of members of the Tactical Intervention Group (GTI) and bicycle patrollers that the new director of the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), Fady Dagher, made his official entry into the headquarters, rue Saint-Urbain, at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning.
After shaking hands with Deputy Director Anne Chamandy and walking through doors he knows well, Fady Dagher meditated for a few minutes in front of the cenotaph of SPVM police officers who died in the line of duty, on the ground floor. building pavement.
Before heading the Longueuil Agglomeration Police Service (SPAL) in 2016, Fady Dagher spent 25 years at the SPVM. He finished his stay there with the rank of assistant director and he is now returning to the ninth floor of the headquarters, but this time in the office of the big boss.
In 2015, Fady Dagher had been a serious candidate for the post of director of the SPVM, but the selection committee and the City had preferred Philippe Pichet to him.
He is the first leader in the history of the SPVM to come from outside Quebec and Canada.
Changes are to be expected in the short term within his staff. According to our information, Mr. Dagher has already advised some of his deputy directors and executives that they would not be part of his plans.
“Between the official handover ceremony scheduled for January 19, the new director, Mr. Fady Dagher, wishes to devote his time to meetings with staff and to preparing for his entry into office. In addition, he will not grant an interview until then, unless there is an exceptional situation,” said an SPVM spokesperson.
No was not an option
Fady Dagher was chosen as director of the SPVM on November 22 and his appointment was approved by the Council of Ministers in mid-December.
His salary will be $261,347 plus a 5% bonus. He will also have six weeks of vacation.
At SPAL, Fady Dagher was spending the second year of an eight-year contract that brought him $300,000 a year.
He explained the reasons for his departure this way in a farewell video to SPAL employees, viewed by The Press.
“I know that the SPVM is a cemetery for directors, as some of you have rightly told me. »
“I know that I am risking my reputation, my career, my health and that I am giving up exceptional working conditions. […] But I can’t say no when Montreal, which has 72% of crime in Quebec, asks for my help, even though I haven’t applied, ”he said at the time.
With Isabelle Ducas
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.