A new look for the vehicles of the SQ

Photo Ben Pelosse
The new appearance of the cars of the Sûreté du Québec will increase the visibility and safety of the patrollers.

Frederique Giguere

Thursday, 13 July, 2017 06:30

UPDATE
Thursday, 13 July, 2017 06:30

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After its uniform, the Sûreté du Québec is continuing its changes by changing the look of its patrol vehicles, which will soon from white to black.

Starting in the fall, motorists will begin to see new models that are more dark, walking the roads of the province. The SQ has already bought the 225 vehicles to start the renewal of its fleet.

Only the four doors of new vehicles will remain white. All the rest of the patrol cars will be all black.

According to studies, the contrast between the two colors ensure better visibility and, at the same time, a greater security to the police, explained Martin Prud’homme, director general of the SQ.

The provincial police will not forsake for all its iconic colors because two stripes in olive green and yellow will be pasted at the top of the door.

Lights more efficient have also been added to the new motor. Working with LED technology, they consume less energy and are more visible. Finally, other lights have been installed on the sides.

“The vehicle that we had was already secure, but this one is even more so, said Mr. Prud’homme. It is more visible, so it may reduce the risk of collision. It is sure that the sooner you identify a police vehicle, the faster you’ll react. “

Not more expensive

The SQ ensures that this new look does not relate to any additional cost and it will in its annual budget.

In effect, every black vehicle put on the road replaces an old car that would have been discarded anyway.

“At 200 000 km, we change the cars, said Mr. Prud’homme. This is not more expensive to order a white or a black. “

According to the projections, it will take about three years to replace all the cars of the service. For specialized vehicles that have less mileage, such as those used by the forensic identification or the technicians at the scene of a fire, the SQ will wait until the end of their useful life before replacing them.

Era of change

These new vehicles add to a series of changes initiated to the SQ under the direction of Martin Prud’homme.

In addition to new uniforms, the police has also announced in recent months, the acquisition of more than 260 sport-utility vehicles to better respond to the needs of the region, 250 stun guns, 150 rifles, semi-automatic to high-risk situations.

Proud of the turn undertaken, the director-general has entrusted want to now tackle the communication system of the Sûreté du Québec, the RÉSEAU, who knows many hiccups since its entry into service.

Photo LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL, Ben PELOSSE

Photo LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL, Ben PELOSSE

Photo LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL, Ben PELOSSE

Photo LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL, Ben PELOSSE

Photo LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL, Ben PELOSSE

Photo LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL, Ben PELOSSE

Separate the patrol suspects

Photo Ben Pelosse

The new uniforms, like the one of Martin Prud’homme, will be worn in the fall by the police in the SQ.

A serious accident, which almost cost the life of two patrol boats has pushed the direction of the SQ to require the installation of security partitions for all of its vehicles.

In the summer of 2015, police officers Kevin Laplante and Guillaume Bernier have arrested a man suspected of having threatened someone with a firearm. While they were driving on route 117 to get to the post office of Mont-Laurier, the man complained of shoulder pain. Since it does not seem aggressive, the agents have agreed to the handcuffing with hands in front.

Shortly after, the suspect suddenly is advanced and deflects the steering wheel of the patrol car. It caused a violent collision with a truck travelling in the opposite direction. There was no wall of security in the vehicle to separate the police from the suspect. The driver, William Bernier, was seriously injured.

Never

“I went to see him at the hospital and I told myself that it’s not going to happen,” said Martin Prud’homme, director general of the SQ.

After months of rehabilitation, the young agent finally resumed the work.

Before the accident, only 140 vehicles across the province had a wall of security. Today, the SQ has increased this number to 382, and the big boss wants that all the self-patrols to be fitted with such an installation.