Montreal police chief submits plan for overhaul following scandals

Montreal's police chief has drawn up a plan to overhaul the "culture" of his scandal-plagued force, and it has the backing of officials in both Quebec City and City Hall.

Details of the plan won't be made public until March 31, Mayor Denis Coderresaid Sunday. But the mayor did reveal it contains proposals to address infighting within theServicedepolicede la Ville deMontral(SPVM).

• Montreal police accused of fabricating evidence to silencewhistleblowers

"There are elements within it that will change the culture (of the SPVM)," Coderre said. He added the plan also addresses the management structure of the force.

"More and more we were seeing that there were clansfrom the past. We had to shine light on that," Coderre said.

Coiteux asked for change

Last month,Public Security MinisterMartinCoiteuxasked Montreal police ChiefPhilippePichetto draw up a plan for restoring confidence in the forcefollowing a series of scandals involving its internal affairs division.

Former officers came forward with allegations that the division fabricated evidence in an effort to silence whistleblowerswho tried to expose corruption in the police. That promptedthe Sret du Qubecto launch a criminal investigation.

Thedeputy director of the force wasrelievedof hisdutiesearlierthis month pending the results of the SQ probe.

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Pichet submitted his proposed changes to the minister on Friday. The two met the next day, andon Sunday, Coiteux expressed his support for Pichet's plan.

"For me it's a convincing plan,"Coiteuxtold CBC News. "It isa part of the whole process that we have started to restore, to re-establish public confidence in the SPVM."

Support for Montreal chief

It was an important vote of confidence for Pichet, who declined to comment on Sunday. Opposition politicians at both the municipal and provincial levels have questioned his leadership since he wasappointedin 2015.

The allegations of fabrication of evidence against whistleblowersis the second major controversy to have hit the force in recent months. In the fall, it was revealed Montreal police sought to monitor conversations of certain journalists.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Coderre highlighted Quebec City's support for Pichet's plan.

• Deputy director of Montreal police relieved of duties during whistleblower inquiry

"Unlike the opposition, who wanted to get rid of Mr. Pichet... I think stability is important," Coderre said. "Mr. Pichet is the man for the situation."

The mayor also stressed that the alleged incidents of evidence fabrication pre-date Pichet's appointment as chief.

Montreal's publicsafety commission will discuss the plan at anin-camera meeting on Wednesday.

The commission will hold a rare public session on Friday, when details of the four-page plan will be revealed. The commission will have the responsibility of ensuring the reform plan is carried out.

• Senior officers pledge support for their chief as Montreal police embroiled in scandal again

Whether the plan is successfulat restoring public trust in the SPVMwill depend on ifitreceives the support of rank-and-file officers, Coiteuxsaid.

"Now everybody has to collaborate on this ... that includes the police brotherhood,"Coiteuxadded, referring to the policeofficer's union.

The union declined to comment on Sunday, saying ithad not yet seen the reform proposals.

Along with the SQ investigation, Coiteuxalso ordered an administrative inquiry into theSPVM. The results of that inquiry are not expected for several months.