Mayor Valérie Plante told reporters on Saturday, June 13, that confidence in the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) has been eroded and that the city will accelerate the deployment of its police body‑camera program. She emphasized that a quicker rollout is a concrete step toward rebuilding public trust after recent controversies involving the police force.
Plante said the body‑camera initiative, which was already planned, has progressed more slowly than the city intended. She pledged that municipal authorities will devote the necessary attention to speed up installation and use of the devices across the force, without specifying a new timeline. The mayor framed the acceleration as essential to ensuring accountability and transparency in policing.
The mayor's remarks follow a series of accusations alleging racist conduct by SPVM officers. Community groups and advocacy organizations have raised concerns that discriminatory behavior persists within the police service, prompting calls for systemic reforms. The allegations have intensified scrutiny of policing practices and heightened public demand for measures that can demonstrate oversight.
City officials indicated that the accelerated body‑camera rollout will be part of a broader response to the concerns raised. While no specific details on funding or deployment dates were provided, the administration affirmed its commitment to addressing the community's worries and to restoring confidence in law enforcement through visible, verifiable actions.