Latest news with #Bureaudesenquêtesindépendantes
Hamilton Spectator
30-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Nunavik Police Service aims to reinvent itself with funding increase
The Nunavik Police Service hopes to reinvent the way it serves the region after receiving a five-fold increase in its funding through an agreement between Kativik Regional Government and the Quebec and federal governments. The deal provides Nunavik police with $562 million to carry out its operations, spread over a five-year period from 2024 to 2029. That dwarfs the previous agreement, signed in 2018 and in effect until 2023, which totalled $115 million. 'Historical,' is how police Chief Jean-Pierre Larose described April's renewal of the Agreement on the Provision of Policing Services in the Kativik Region, during a French interview at his Kuujjuaq office on Wednesday. 'We have the means for our ambitions now,' he said. He said the funding increase is due to a detailed five-year plan Nunavik police presented to Quebec's public security ministry, which wants to reform the Nunavik Police Service and turn its focus to community policing. Over the past seven months, two people have died during incidents involving Nunavik police officers: Joshua Papigatuk, of Salluit, in November, and another man in Kangiqsualujjuaq in May. Both cases are being investigated by Quebec's police public watchdog, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes. 'It is about growing closer and gaining the trust of Inuit by any means possible,' Larose said of community policing, adding he's open to suggestions from people in the Nunavik communities. 'That would be perfect, because I admit that I am starting to run out of ideas myself,' he said. 'I need the population to help us as well.' One significant upgrade will be a jump to 32 investigators for the service's mixed investigation team, which tackles drug smuggling and contraband. That's twice the current number of investigators. The Hudson and Ungava coast areas will each now have teams of 16 investigators, to improve efficiency and capacity throughout the region. Larose also wants to incorporate lieutenants — ideally, one in every village — to ensure the growing number of officers coming into the region are well structured and supervised. By 2029, he said, Nunavik Police Service will have over 250 officers compared to the 150 working now. 'I want them to be on the road, supervise the calls, supervise police officers during their interventions,' he said of the lieutenants, who will be picked from the current pool of Nunavik officers. Larose said the roughly 65 new officers who arrived within the past year and a half average 27 or 28 years in age and may lack experience. 'I am fully aware of that, so it is even more important to have a system of coaching and supervision in place,' he said. Relaunch ing the cadet program to recruit Inuit youth who would accompany officers during their outreach work, is also a priority for Larose. He believes that — alongside a more rigorous cultural introduction program to prepare incoming officers — will improve communication between the communities and the police. Larose wants incoming officers to spend days with community members to experience Inuit life and make stronger connections. All officers will also take a communication tactics course in de-escalating incidents, to help them defuse situations especially when mental health issues are involved. The funding increase will also allow Nunavik police to explore using alternative non-lethal weapons. Larose points out that in both recent cases where a police altercation ended in the death of a civilian, the conducted energy weapon, also known as a stun gun, was ineffective. 'This makes me question, it tells me that we should use other options where in some situations a rubber projectile weapon could be more beneficial,' he said.
Montreal Gazette
08-05-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Bodycam footage relinquished in fatal police shooting in Nunavik
The Nunavik Police Service in Quebec's Far North says officers involved in a fatal shooting on Tuesday night were wearing body cameras. Quebec's police oversight agency, the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, announced Wednesday it was investigating the shooting in Kangiqsualujjuaq, on Ungava Bay, and the police service confirmed bodycam video had been shared with the agency. The BEI says members of the Nunavik Police Service had planned to arrest someone who was inside a tent in the Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. In a statement released late Wednesday, the police force said officers had a warrant for the man, but they said he resisted when they tried to arrest him. The police force says officers used pepper spray on the man, who they say emerged from the tent with a knife. An officer tried to subdue the man with a stun gun, but as the incident evolved, an officer opened fire and the victim was later declared dead at a regional health centre.
Winnipeg Free Press
08-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bodycam footage relinquished in fatal officer-involved shooting in northern Quebec
KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ – The Nunavik Police Service in Quebec's Far North says officers involved in a fatal shooting on Tuesday night were wearing body cameras. Quebec's police oversight agency announced Wednesday it was investigating the shooting in Kangiqsualujjuaq, and the police service confirmed bodycam video had been shared with the agency. The police watchdog — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — says members of the Nunavik Police Service had planned to arrest someone who was inside a tent in the Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. In a statement released late Wednesday, the police force said officers had a warrant for the man, but they said he resisted when they tried to arrest him. The police force says officers used pepper spray on the man, who they say emerged from the tent with a knife. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. An officer tried to subdue the man with a stun gun, but as the incident evolved, an officer opened fire and the victim was later declared dead at a regional health centre. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
08-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
One person dead in Kangiqsualujjuaq after reported police shooting
Quebec's police watchdog is investigating after a person in Kangiqsualujjuaq died Tuesday after allegedly being shot by police. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes opened the investigation in the early hours of Wednesday morning, according to a news release posted to the bureau's website. The release gives basic details about the incident, but does not offer any identifying information about the victim, including age or gender. Officers with the Nunavik Police Service located a wanted person inside a tent Tuesday at about 10:30 p.m. and reportedly used pepper spray to force the person out of the tent, the release said. The person came out of the tent with a 'bladed weapon' and moved toward the officers. An officer then allegedly used a conducted energy weapon — sometimes referred to as a stun gun — and then allegedly fired their gun, injuring the person, who was then transported to the local health centre and pronounced dead. Deputy Chief Jean-Francois Morin of the Nunavik Police Service declined to comment. Five investigators were expected to be on their way to Kangiqsualujjuaq as of noon Wednesday and scheduled to arrive at 4 p.m., said bureau spokesperson Jérémie Comtois in a French phone interview. They will lead an investigation. Comtois confirmed police have retrieved body camera footage from the events. Comtois did not offer any more information and asked anybody who might have been a witness to contact the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes. About six months ago, on Nov. 4, 2024, Nunavik police shot and killed a man in Salluit and severely injured his twin brother. The Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes is also investigating that incident. The bureau investigates all cases in which a person, other than an on-duty police officer, dies or suffers serious injury by a police officer during a police intervention, or in custody.
Global News
07-05-2025
- Global News
Quebec police watchdog investigating officer-involved fatal shooting in Far North
Quebec's police watchdog is investigating a fatal shooting involving an officer in the province's Far North. The watchdog – Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes – says members of the Nunavik Police Service on Tuesday night wanted to arrest someone who was inside a tent in Kangiqsualujjuaq, an Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Police tried to speak with the person and used pepper spray to get them out of the tent. The watchdog says the person came out of the tent allegedly holding a sharp-edged weapon and moved toward the officers. One officer used a stun gun to subdue the person, while the other officer opened fire. The victim, whose identity has not been released, was declared dead in hospital. Story continues below advertisement Five investigators have been assigned to the investigation.
