Montreal fires seven police officers over racist conduct

Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher has dismissed seven employees following internal investigations into allegations of racist and discriminatory behaviour and other degrading acts. Five worked at Station 39 in Montréal-Nord, the centre of a racism scandal since June, and two at downtown Station 21. Separate criminal investigations are continuing and remain in the hands of the Crown. Dagher apologized to those affected and acknowledged that public trust had been badly weakened, promising further changes in the coming weeks. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada called the firings an unprecedented step, while opposition party Projet Montréal said they were the bare minimum required.