Person Killed in SQ Police Pursuit in Saint-Cyprien (Rivière-du-Loup) (April 22, 2024)

The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) is investigating a person’s death during a police pursuit by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) on April 22, 2024. They report that around 4:55 PM, a Sûreté du Québec police officer allegedly located the vehicle of a wanted person, turned on his flashing lights and attempted to intercept the vehicle. Around 4:56 PM, the pursued vehicle collided with another vehicle. The driver of the pursued vehicle was reportedly seriously injured and the driver of the second vehicle was reported dead at the scene.

The BEI has assigned five investigators to examine the case. The BEI is not an independent oversight agency and relies on other police forces for investigations, in this case the Quebec City Police Department.

Eeyou Eenou Police Force Strike and Kill Man with Patrol Car (April 19, 2024)

Eeyou Eenou Police Force (EEPF, Cree Nation) struck and killed a pedestrian with a patrol car in Mistissini, in Northern Quebec, on April 19, 2024. Quebec’s Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) is investigating. They report that a police officer from the Eeyou Eenou Police Force was traveling in his patrol car, followed by two police officers from the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) in their patrol vehicle. The three officers were reportedly responding to a call regarding a person traveling by foot on the highway. The pedestrian was then hit by the EEPF police officer’s patrol car. The victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to a clinic where he was later pronounced dead.

Five BEI investigators have been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. The BEI is not an independent investigations unit and relies on other police forces for their investigations. In this case, the Service de police de la Ville du Québec (Quebec City police) will be involved in the investigation.

Man Dies in Sûreté du Québec Police Action in Parent (April 4, 2024)

The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) is investigating the death of a man during an intervention involving the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) on April 4, 2024. They report that around 1:31 PM, a call was made to the Sûreté du Québec regarding a person allegedly wanted by police. Around 7:10 PM, police reportedly attempted to arrest the person who was inside a tent, using pepper spray to force him out of the tent. At some point they heard a gunshot coming from the tent and withdrew. Officers from the Sûreté du Québec tactical intervention group arrived on the scene around 4:08 AM on April 5 and confirmed the person’s death. The BEI has assigned four investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the police intervention and death.

Two Men Killed in Montreal Police Pursuit (March 28, 2024)

Quebec’s police oversight agency, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), is investigating after two men in their twenties were killed in what is reported as a police pursuit in the Rosemont neighborhood of Montreal on March 28, 2024.

According to the BEI, a Service de police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM) police officer was responding to a 911 call reporting gunshots and dangerous driving shortly after 5:30 AM. While driving with lights flashing the officer reportedly spotted a vehicle that was driving dangerously and appeared to match the description of the vehicle in the 911 call. He pursued it. The BEI say that about one minute later, the driver of that vehicle crashed into a tree. One person was declared dead at the scene and the other died later in hospital.

The BEI has assigned five investigators to examine the case. The BEI is not an independent oversight agency and relies on other police forces for their investigations. In this case they will be assisted by the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), the provincial police. Showing the conflict of interest this involves, the SQ is simultaneously carrying out the criminal investigation into the alleged gunshots and dangerous driving that occurred before the police intervention.

Person Dies in Sûreté du Québec Custody in Campbell’s Bay, Quebec (March 1-12, 2024)

A person who fell unconscious at a police station after being arrested by Sûreté du Québec (SQ) on March 1, 2024, in Campbell’s Bay, Quebec, has died.

It is reported that on March 1, around 8:40 AM, Sûreté du Québec police officers allegedly arrested a person at his home. Around 11:15 AM, the person was found unconscious on the floor of the interrogation room. First aid was provided and the person was then transported to a hospital where their condition was considered serious.

It was reported on March 12 that the person had died.

Sûreté du Québec Hit and Kill Man with Patrol Car (Feb. 24, 2024)

Quebec’s police oversight agency, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI), is investigating after a man was struck and killed by Sûreté du Québec (SQ) in a patrol car on February 24, 2024.

According to the BEI, the person was struck by an SQ patrol car near Schefferville, Quebec at around 1:30 AM. The victim suffered serious injuries and was transported to the CLSC where he was pronounced dead.

The BEI has assigned five investigators to the case. They not an independent agency and rely on other police forces in their investigations.

Man in Crisis Dies in Police Action in Shawinigan, Quebec (Dec. 22, 2023)

The Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) is investigating the circumstances of a man’s death during an intervention involving the Sûreté du Québec (SQ). They report that on December 22 around 2:40 PM, a call was made to 911 by a person with suicidal thoughts. Around 2:52 PM the police arrived on site and observed a person outside a residence with a firearm. Police say they then heard a gunshot. The man died on scene. Five BEI investigators will investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and police actions or inactions.

Police are not care. They are not the appropriate response to someone in distress.

Woman Dies in SQ Action in Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon (Nov. 23, 2023)

The Bureau of Independent Investigations (BEI) is investigating a woman’s death during a police intervention involving the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) on November 23, 2023. The BEI reports that around 2:58 AM, a call was made to 911 for a person who was in crisis. Police arrived on scene around 3:12 AM and attempted to make contact several times with the person who was inside a residence. They were informed that the person allegedly had bladed weapons in her possession. Police allegedly carried out several triangulation procedures to contact the person in the house, but were not successful. Around 5:19 AM police allegedly saw the person through a window of the residence unconscious on the ground. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are not about care and should not be deployed against people in crisis. There have been numerous cases in Canada of people in crisis taking their own lives when police are deployed.

Saguenay Police Shoot and Kill Guinean International Student (Nov. 28, 2023)

Saguenay, Quebec, police shot and killed a man on November 28, 2023. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) reports that Saguenay Police Department officers received a 911 call reporting a stabbing shortly after 10 AM with officers arriving a few minutes later and allegedly seeing an individual with a knife. It has been reported by a witness that the man was shirtless. Police first used a taser on the man after, they say, he did not comply with orders to drop the alleged weapon. One of the police officers then shot the man. He was declared dead at the scene.

It has since been confirmed by The University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC) that the victim was an international student from Guinea who attended the university. UQAC released a stamen saying,

“Following [sic] the police operation that took place near our Saguenay campus yesterday, we regret to announce that the person concerned was a student from our university who came from abroad. […] The police are continuing their investigation and we have offered them our full cooperation.”

The BEI has assigned five investigators to examine the death. The BEI is not an independent agency and other police forces are involved in their investigations. In this case the Sûreté du Québec (SQ, provincial police) will be involved. Yet, a parallel criminal investigation into the events will also be undertaken by the Sûreté du Québec, so this adds another layer of conflict of interest, beyond the basic conflict of police investigating police.

Quebec SQ Shoot and Kill Young Boy in Distress During Intoxication Arrest (Nov. 7, 2023)

On November 7, 2023, Sûreté du Québec (SQ, provincial police) shot and killed a boy during their deployment for a person who was reported to be intoxicated and in crisis on Route du Développement in Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, near Victoriaville. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (BEI) reports that at around 6:43 PM a call was made to 911. Three SQ patrol vehicles arrived on the scene around 7:25 PM and at some point, during the police intervention the person was shot by police. He was reportedly transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A neighbor and direct witness at the scene, Steve Houle, says police killed a boy who was sick. In his words, “It was a young boy who was sick, he rushed towards the police and the police opened fire. I was outside, it happened 100 feet from me, it’s something, it’s overwhelming.” Houle said he was still in shock.

The BEI has assigned four investigators to examine the killing. The BEI is not an independent agency and uses the services of another police force for its investigations. In this case the Montreal City Police Service will be involved.