Strong police intervention in Quebec: Gilbalt assures Commissioner of doing BEI’s job

The Commissioner of Police Ethics, who has been tasked with bringing to light muscle interference with young blacks in Quebec, has assured the Minister of Public Safety that it will have the same latitude as an independent investigation.

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He can then refer the case to justice and if he finds a criminal element, the file can be sent to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions or the police force. Its investigation is in addition to what was conducted internally by the Quebec City Police Department.

“It simply came to our notice then. The Commissioner of Police Ethics is a completely independent body. So he is not in the Ministry of Public Security, “said Genevieve Gilbolt, chief of The Christian Science Monitor’s Washington bureau.

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However, this is not what the opposition parties are demanding that this power be handed over to an independent investigative agency. The latter is designed to prevent police officers from prosecuting their colleagues, especially in the case of allegations of a criminal offense committed by a police officer.

“This investigation must be conducted by the Bureau of Independent Investigations.

Extended powers

But the Geneviève Guilbault Police Ethics Commissioner confirms that “for example, we made BEI mandatory” doing the same thing. In addition, it seeks to disclose its report, which is not the case with the BEI investigation.

Robert de Blois, a lawyer specializing in police ethics, described the commissioner as having “commission of inquiry powers.” In particular, he may be required to provide documents necessary for his work and to testify to colleagues of police officers involved.

However, unlike the Commission of Inquiry, the concerned police officers are not required to testify before the Commissioner. “The police officer (s) targeted by the complaint have the power not to co-operate in the investigation if he so desires,” M.^E From Blois. However if the case is filed before the Ethics Committee they will have to do.

If police officers decide to remain silent, the commissioner may also rely on written reports on the event to find out their version. “Therefore, we cannot say that the commissioner had anything to do with it.”^E Robert de Blois.

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