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The union representing Montreal’s metro constables have said that officers may need tasers and firearms — but the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) said it has no plans to arm the officers.
Kevin Grenier, president of the Fraternité des constables et agents de la paix de la STM (FCAP), said in an interview on Wednesday that rising violence and a lack of essential equipment have created significant security risks for metro constables.
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It comes after the union hired retired Sûreté du Québec officer Mario Benriqué to assess the situation. The FCAP said Benriqué’s report recommended that special constables be armed with guns and stun guns, and have access to the Centre de renseignements policiers du Québec (CRPQ), a confidential police database.
The union will need to consult its 160 members before taking an official position on access to these weapons.
Grenier said there has been an increase in mental health and substance abuse issues among metro users, adding that drug use on the streets is “getting worse,” affecting safety in metro stations and surrounding areas.
“[The database] would allow us to identify people we encounter,” Grenier said.
He said that the situation is more critical than ever, with officers facing an increasing number of individuals “who have disturbed mental states, unpredictable violent behaviour, and are often armed.”
“A very high number of people get injured in these situations,” Grenier said.
However, an STM spokesperson told The Gazette there are no plans to arm special constables.
“We are aware that the difficult social context makes the work of special constables more complex. However, we favour a de-escalation approach for more complex interventions involving aggressive individuals,” the spokesperson said.
The STM said that constables have had access to pepper spray since the beginning of the year and have used it seven times so far. Special constables are instructed to contact the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) for situations involving armed individuals.
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