Five police officers suspended after 2018 Montreal police chase injured woman

Quebec's police disciplinary tribunal has suspended five officers, three from the provincial police and two from Montreal police, for their roles in a 2018 road chase. The pursuit concluded tragically when the fleeing suspect struck a woman shovelling snow outside her home, causing serious injuries.

The tribunal's judgment, released last week, found that the officers should not have continued the chase. The suspect was driving with a suspended license, and the pursuit traversed downtown Montreal and the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood, areas with significant pedestrian traffic, schools, parks, and bike paths.

Tribunal members determined that the risks posed to the public by continuing the chase through a densely populated urban environment outweighed the need to apprehend the suspect immediately. The misconduct was deemed particularly serious due to the involvement of multiple police vehicles and the route taken.

Effective suspensions for the officers range from 30 to 42 days. Additionally, four of the officers have been ordered to undergo further training focused on police driving techniques and pursuit protocols. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about police pursuit policies and public safety in urban settings.