High-ranking Montreal police officer suspended over fraud, breach of trust allegations

Montreal's chief of police has suspended a high-ranking police officer accused offraud and breach of trust.

Theofficer's suspension is effective immediately and will be in place until an investigation is complete, Chief PhilippePichetsaidin astatement tweetedfromthe force's Twitter account Friday morning. Pichet didn't give the name of the officer.

However, earlier Friday, Pichet confirmed provincial police are looking into allegations involving issues with overtime hours and bonusesreceived by his right-hand man, ImadSawaya, in 2015.

Pichetsaid those issues have already been verified and there were no anomalies. Butsomeonetipped off amixed police squad, headed by the SretduQubecand set up by Public Security Minister MartinCoiteuxto investigate the force's internal affairs, topotential problems.

Sawayahas not been arrested andthe Montreal police are collaborating with the SQ in the investigation,Pichetsaid.

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When asked about the raid, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said that if laws are broken,there are consequences.But he reiterated that the accusations have not been proven and there's a process that must be respected.

"I'm the mayor of Montreal, I'm not in charge of police operations, so we'll let the process go and we'll see what happens," he said.

Coderre commended the police chief for quickly making himself available to answer reporters' questions.

RAW: Mayor Denis Coderre on raid at Montreal police headquarters

7 years ago

Duration 0:49

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre urged the media to let the legal process run its course Friday after a Thursday night raid by the SQ on Montreal police headquarters.

"At the end of the day, Mr. Pichet showed his openness, and I trust not only the institution but the director himself."

The head of Montreal's police officers' union, Yves Francoeur, declined to comment on the matter. Coiteuxalso declined to comment.

Policeheadquarters raided

Members of theSQ's team raided thedowntownheadquarters of theService de police de la Ville de Montral (SPVM)Thursday in connection with the probe.

The SQ's deputy chief informed Pichet around 4 p.m. ET Thursday that search warrants would be executed at different buildings belonging to the City of Montreal in connection with the probe.

Members of the SQ's teamarrived at SPVM headquartersaround 6 p.m. Pichet said he was still at his office at the time.

They were looking for a specific file, he said. Pichetalso said the investigation has no impact on the day-to-day service the force provides Montrealers.

"I know it's big, seeing the headquarters of the SPVM being searched, but... [investigators]are doing their job, they're going to look at all the information and it's important to make sure we're [shedding]light on the file," he said.

Pichetsaid to his knowledge, this is the first time the SPVM's headquarters have been searched.

Ongoing investigation

Pichet spent the night meetingwith other high-ranking officers and said he has to inform the people concerned before speaking further about the case.

The SQ team searched the third and seventh floors, where the operational planning division and human resources are located, Pichet said.

Radio-Canada originally reported the raids targetedthe building's fourth and ninth floors.

The fourth floor is where internal affairs was located until last winter. Meanwhile, the ninthfloor is for the top brass.

The SQ also conducted searches at a local police station, a municipal building, and the Montreal police's archives. No private homes were searched,hesaid.

The raids come as Montreal police attempt to improve transparency in the wake of scandals involving its internal affairs division.

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'It's the principle'

Retired Montreal police officerGuyRyan said the investigation may not be about the money.

"It might be about a few hundred dollars, but it's the principle," he said, adding that his rank in the police service would send a message to other officers.

When asked if the investigation would jeopardize Pichet's standing as chief, Ryan said "it doesn't help." He also said these are things that a police chief doesn't want to have to handle.