New Study Suggests Quebec Police Officers Are Sometimes Hesitant To Intervene – Montreal | The Canadian News

Quebec police officers refuse to intervene in some situations while on duty because they fear repercussions, according to a study.

“This is happening in Canada, so we at the police academy were interested if this was also happening in Quebec,” Camille Faubert from the Center for Research and Strategic Development at the Quebec National Police College told Global News.

The finding is the result of a police school study that measures police disconnect. 21 officers from across the province participated.

Faubert said she was surprised by the nearly 200 police officers who initially volunteered to talk about the disconnect. Study officers were randomly selected from this group.

“Some of them told me that they quit or quit their police career as a form of disengagement,” Faubert said.

Reasons some officers ignore some calls include fear of consequences, such as being accused of racial profiling, public confrontation, and the potential impact on their private lives.

Other reasons: public criticism and ignorance of the police profession, lack of organizational support, and media scrutiny.

It is similar to other studies in Canada and the United States.

According to one published in 2019 at Carlton University in Ottawa, “a substantial majority of grassroots officers from the 23 jurisdictions in both countries (72%) are intentionally reducing or eliminating proactive interactions in the community …”

That survey did not include Quebec.

Former Montreal police inspector André Durocher is not surprised by the findings of the Quebec report, but he has concerns.

“If we get to the point where the police won’t intercept you because they fear being targeted for racial profiling or being on social media and all that,” he reasoned, “well, this is going to lead to some of the things we’re seeing.”

He agrees that officers need support at all levels, from politicians to community groups. But he noted that support must be balanced with repression of those who break the law.

Durocher sympathizes with the officers.

“But I must remind them what they are there for, what they are paid for, and with job security, with salary, comes responsibility,” he said.

The study continues.

According to the academy, an online survey will be launched in January to validate the findings.

Faubert said the results could eventually be used to improve training at the police academy.