A series of 10 video capsules were produced to deal with various subjects, including mental health and relations with cultural communities. They will be launched over the next year on social networks to address the population.
It is time for Quebecers to see the daily work of our police officers. In our campaign, there will be no actors, no learned phrases, only real interviews, in simplicity and truth. You will see what happens in everyday life, what we never see because it goes well
declared Pierre Brochet, president of the ADPQ, at a press conference.
The police have had bad press in recent years due to harsh arrests whose images have been broadcast on social networks by citizens.
The purpose of these capsules is also to demystify police work. There is sometimes a lack of love from the population because of a segment of a video that only disadvantages the police officer in intervention. But we hope to have the technological tools to obtain complete sequences of an intervention to better communicate our work to the population.
added Didier Deramond, general manager of the ADPQ.
Shortage of police officers in Quebec
It must be said that the campaign launched on Wednesday comes at an opportune time for the police forces, which are facing a shortage of police officers to regenerate their ranks.
According to our information, the National Police School of Quebec in Nicolet is struggling to graduate some 600 students to meet the growing demand for hiring.
The COVID-19 pandemic is said to have had a severe impact on recruit training.
These were the conditions for a perfect storm. The National School had to be able to have the maximum number of graduates to meet demand. At the same time, there was the temporary closure of their facilities due to health restrictions, which delayed the training which is only given in the presence in the classes. I am thinking in particular of simulations, methods of using force and physical tests
commented François Lemay, president of the Federation of police forces of Quebec.
The waiting times caused by the months of closure would be one to two years for a graduate in police technology who wants to enter the National School.
There is also a factor that worries me, it is a trend where we see aspiring police officers who complete their technique at CEGEP, but decide not to go to the last stage, at the National Police Academy of Quebec. Admissions will have to be reviewed one day, even if the program is subject to quotas. For example, beyond academic results, the candidate’s level of motivation, judgment and ability to handle situations under pressure
says Mr. Lemay.
Police disengagement
In May of last year, Radio-Canada looked at the trend of police disengagement in Quebec, which is being challenged by several pressure groups.
Today’s campaign is also intended to send a clear message to all of our 15,000 police officers in Quebec. The police directors are behind them and support them in their work. It is a job that has become complex and full of challenges on a daily basis.
underlined Mr. Brochet.
The challenges before us are the same as [ceux de] the employer. The disengagement of the police in the ranks in Quebec should not be underestimated. And valuing our police officers wholeheartedly publicly is very important. In the end, the police officers that we represent as unions are the same ones that the management hires to represent them in the field.
concluded Mr. Lemay.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca