An “atypical staffing”, officers with broader backgrounds, a proactive rather than reactive police force: the Montreal Police Department hopes this vision will be realized through the expansion of the AEC Police Diversity program, now accessible to anyone with training a social science subject, explains Fady Dagher, director of the police, in an interview with La Presse.
Posted at 5:00 am
“What we are looking for now are atypical profiles,” says the chief of police, who has been in office since last December.
The AEC program provides faster access to a police station at the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) while receiving training in gendarmerie and policing techniques. This bridge used to be reserved for aborigines and people of all backgrounds. It is now accessible to candidates with training in a social science field: criminology, social work, etc.
What exactly is an AEC profile? For example, a 30-year-old person who would have previously worked in a transitional shelter with vulnerable people for 10 years. “This policeman is already on patrol with a piece of luggage. He was a witness to human need. You can’t learn that in a school,” explains Fady Dagher.
A candidate with an atypical cast will also be more likely to understand street codes or more urban slang if they have previously worked with marginalized youth.
The profile of the police officers is very homogeneous, because the recruitment channels have been the same for years: police engineering, Quebec National Police School (ENPQ), explains the director of the SPVM.
“I will always need technical know-how. But the screaming need is dialogue, mediation. »
In prevention mode
Agents’ everyday life has changed. Incoming calls require human rather than technical skills. No data is available indicating the number of 911 calls directly related to mental health issues or domestic violence.
But Mr. Dagher estimates that in an eight-and-a-half-hour patrol, 70% of the calls an agent receives have to do with mental health, human suffering or even tensions between neighbors, the boss lists. A trend that cannot be quantified but can be felt on the spot.
“But I keep getting applications from people trained in armed intervention,” he explains. Tactical, technical and strategic skills remain essential. Police forces will always need it. But by hiring different profiles we can prepare before the crisis situation occurs.
“As long as we’re mostly reactionary, we won’t have settled anything in 10 years. You must be able to anticipate the problems with key police officers. It’s a more permanent solution. »
bottleneck
The police are constantly putting out fires. The volume of calls related to human distress is increasing in this area. “We will need upstream solutions” to overcome this bottleneck.
The judiciary no longer follows. When the judiciary is completely overwhelmed, I want to take action before the crime takes place.
Fady Dagher, Director of the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)
Regarding the sensitive issue of personnel, the chief of police specifies that between 400 and 700 positions are missing to fill the ranks.
Should the police take the place of street workers and mental health experts? Not at all, Nuance Fady Dagher.
The municipal sector also needs more staff. But his missions in the field are also dangerous and require the cooperation of the police. “A man in crisis at 2am who has not taken his medication, we are asked to intervene to secure the premises. The workers call the police to secure the crime scene before going about their work. »
The risk of calls and interventions related to mental health problems should not be underestimated. “Even the smallest calls can change quickly,” says Dagher.
Extended AEC Police Diversity Program (diversity or social profile)
Offer for all candidates with a bachelor’s degree in one of the following areas:
- criminology
- sociology
- psychology
- social work
- To the right
- Security and Police Studies
- Social sciences – cooperative system (focus on sociology)
Or
University degree (DEC) in:
- Social Work Techniques
- Special Education Techniques
- Intervention techniques and delinquency
When a candidate is selected
Those selected will receive a job offer from the SPVM and must complete the following two training courses:
- Attestation of College Studies (AEC) in Police Engineering of 30 weeks. Start of training planned for the autumn-winter sessions 2023-2024.
- Training in the patrol police force of 15 weeks. This training is offered at the National Police School of Quebec in Nicolet. Start of training planned for 2024.
Recruitment at the SPVM planned from November 2024.
Application deadline: May 8, 2023