Lack “cruel” of special constables in Montreal

Michael Nguyen

Tuesday, 23 January 2018 14:15

UPDATE
Tuesday, 23 January 2018 14:15

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The palais de justice de Montréal “lack” of special constables, to the point where key positions are not covered in case of an emergency, alarm the president of the union of these peace officers.

“It can no longer fulfill completely our mission is to ensure the safety […] of judges, court staff, prosecutors and citizens. Everyone is vulnerable,” explains Franck Perales, president of the Union of the special constables of the government of Quebec.

Photo Magalie Lapointe

Franck Perales
Special Constable

According to him, the problem continues for two or three years, but the situation only worsened in the palace of justice, which is one of the busiest in North America.

Invisible

For example, on Tuesday morning, The paper noted that no special constable was visible on several floors of the palais de justice of Montreal, while many of the accused waited for the time to appear.

The sergeants were later seen, which ensured the maintenance of order in the area to be busy at the palace of justice.

To the second floor where are heard several family cases and where the forces of order have to regularly intervene to calm down the spirits, there was no special constables, so that they are usually two.

“In the room where people were treated in psychiatric cases, in case of emergency, the special constable [this] should do it alone, it will not have a reinforcement”, is concerned that Mr. Perales.

Not in bad faith

The lack of staff is so profound that some peace officers end up working long hours, to start again the next day.

If the choice is personal and if the salary is a result, it remains that the situation is far from ideal, ” said Mr. Perales, who, however, refuses to blame the managers for the lack of special constables.

“The management is aware of what is happening,” he said. This is not a question of ill will, but they don’t know what to do. The lemon is so pressed that there is more juice that comes out.”

At the time of writing these lines, the ministry of public Security of Quebec had not yet responded to the concerns of these officers of the peace under his leadership.