After a prolonged absence from public appearances due to illness, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is back on the scene, and he's been paying attention to the scandals plaguing the city's police force over the past few weeks. At his first public event since February 28, the Mayor urged caution, and asked the public to wait until all the facts had been revealed before expecting any action.
"First of all, keep the faith," said Coderre at an event downtown this morning. He added, “We have a tremendous police force. If there’s some rotten apples or issues, we have a process. It’s not a kangaroo court here.”
Last month, several officers publicly alleged the SPVM's internal affairs division had been conducting a smear campaign against them after they raised concerns over the legality of several organized crime-related investigations. Then came the resignation of Bernard Lamothe, the force's deputy director for the strategic division, the exact reasons for which remain unknown.
Before taking sick leave for prostatitis, the Mayor reaffirmed his support for SPVM chief Philippe Pichet, and his belief in the force's professionalism.