Sûreté du Québec says it has no plans to immediately withdraw from Lac-Simon

The Sûreté du Québec says it has no plans to immediately withdraw from Lac-Simon, an Algonquin reserve near Val-d'Or, despite concerns the community would soon be "abandoned" by the force.

SQ Capt. Guy Lapointe said Wednesday there is "no question of a unilateral withdrawal," adding that discussions are ongoing to eventually cede all police work to the local police force.

"We still believe that service by the Sûreté du Québec is a temporary solution and that it is desirable that the Lac-Simon Police Service regain its autonomy," he said.

Earlier, the chief of the Anishnaabe Nation of Lac-Simon told Radio-Canada it was her understanding that the SQ would stop patrolling starting today. 

"We feel like the Sûreté du Québec has abandoned us," said Chief Adrienne Jérôme.

Union representative Marc Ranger had also told Radio-Canada the local Indigenous police force was preparing for an immediate withdrawal.

Like the SQ, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux denied the report, saying the SQ's departure would be more gradual and part of a planned attempt to restore more control to the local force.

Heightened tensions

The SQ's eventual departure could be difficult for the community to handle, given a provincial mandate to have four police officers on patrol in the community of 1,450 at all times.

The local Indigenous police force is often short staffed, especially after an officer, Thierry Leroux, was killed in February while responding to a domestic dispute.

Since then, SQ officers have been covering more shifts, particularly at night and on weekends. Tensions between the SQ and residents have been high since a provincial officer fatally shot a member of the community during an intervention in April.

Allegations that provincial police officers assaulted Indigenous women in nearby Val-d'Or further strained relations.

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Band loses confidence in SQ

On Monday, Jérôme said the decision not to charge any of the officers accused of assault made some in Lac-Simon feel unsafe.

She said the band council had lost confidence in the SQ, and if the force couldn't guarantee it could keep people in the community safe, its officers shouldn't be there.

Jérôme said people in Lac-Simon deserve respect, safety and protection just like all Quebecers.

She said she will work with the province to come up with solutions.

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