“That the bullet only crossed a calf, that the policeman only spent two hours in the hospital and that nothing more serious happened, it’s a miracle,” says Yves Francœur, president of the Montreal Police Brotherhood, in an interview at The Press.
Posted at 1:29 p.m.
The patrolman shot and killed while pursuing an armed individual on foot late Wednesday evening in the city center was on the 5e event in less than two years during which an SPVM police officer was shot or shot.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
A police officer who was shot after a foot chase near Tupper Street on Wednesday evening.
In September 2020, a patrolman was hit in the foot by a projectile fired by a suspect during an intervention in the Old Port.
The following winter, it was agent Sanjay Vig’s turn to be beaten and targeted with his own service weapon in the north of the metropolis. It was following this event that an innocent motorist was arrested and accused by mistake.
In August 2021, a stray bullet nearly hit a police officer near a hospital and last May, projectiles were fired at police officer Vig’s patrol car – him again – in the borough of LaSalle.
We could add a sixth event during which an investigator was attacked when he was delivering a summons to appear in the borough of LaSalle last January, but no firearm was used.
With the holidays approaching, and while “firearms are more present than ever” she wrote in a press release, the Fraternity felt the need to issue an appeal for caution to its 4,500 members.
It is the basis of police work to be careful. But they are also humans. Their loved ones have every right to expect them to come home in one piece.
Yves Francœur, President of the Montreal Police Brotherhood
Lack of political support
The latter also criticizes Mayor Valérie Plante for not having supported the injured police officer on social networks.
“She is quicker to blame the police than to support them,” he accuses, adding that the absence of good words from the mayor and, on the other hand, the tweet of support from Premier Legault, were “ greatly noticed” by its members.
Mr. Francœur deplores what he describes as a “lack of political support” for Montreal police officers and which, according to him, results in particular in a lack of staff.
“Our investigators tell us. We receive far more information on narcotics and firearms cases than we can process. Investigators must go there as a priority and the weapons they seize are the tip of the iceberg,” warns Yves Francœur.
“The mayor unreservedly supports the work of the police who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our metropolis and this is all the more true when a tragic event occurs like the one this week. These actions are shocking and unacceptable. We are relieved to learn today that the officer has been discharged from hospital. We wish him a speedy recovery and we vigorously denounce these gestures which have no place in our city, ”replied Marikym Gaudreault, from Valérie Plante’s office.
She also pointed out that the mayor re-shared a sympathetic tweet from borough councilor Alain Vaillancourt, that she accompanied the SPVM’s interim director, Sophie Roy, on the ground last month and “that no one, except the Fraternity, does not call into question the fact that Mme Plante supports his police.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Valérie Plante with SPVM interim director Sophie Roy at the end of June.
“In the context of negotiating the collective agreement with the police union, we will reserve our comments on the union’s communication to its members,” continued Ms.me Gaudreault.
Having probably foreseen the coup, Mr. Francœur ensures that his exit has nothing to do with the upcoming start of negotiations leading to the renewal of the collective agreement.
To reach Daniel Renaud, dial 514 285-7000, ext. 4918, write to [email protected] or write to the postal address of The Press.