Protests follow decision not to charge police

Alleged abuse of native women in Quebec

VAL D’OR, QUE. • Citizens protested in the streets of Val d’Or on Friday after Crown prosecutors confirmed none of the six provincial police officers accused of abusing native women in the northwestern Quebec town would be charged.

Prosecutors said that despite no charges being laid, it didn’t mean the accusers weren’t telling the truth.

“We have to be clear,” said Mathieu Locas, with Quebec’s Crown prosecutor’s office, said Friday. “The fact that charges are not being laid doesn’t mean the event didn’t take place. The burden of proof on the Crown is very high and we have to show that these suspects are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“And in the cases that we received,” Locas said, “unfortunately we don’t have enough evidence to show that.”

Despite the Crown prosecutor’s words, citizens banged drums in the streets and peacefully protested before and after the news conference.

Quebec’s Public Security Department mandated the Montreal police force to investigate allegations that aboriginal women in Val d’Or were physically and sexually abused by provincial police.

The allegations came to light following an investigative report by Radio-Canada’s investigative program Enquete in 2015.

There were initially 14 complaints against six officers, who were suspended pending the results of the investigation. The provincial government expanded the Montreal police’s mandate, however, to include similar complaints against officers from other parts of Quebec.

By April, Montreal police had 38 complaints of police abuse, including rape, sexual assault, harassment, and so-called “starlight tours,” where police would allegedly take people against their will and drive them far outside town and abandon them.

Montreal Police said these cases were part of “phase one” of their investigation, while cases in the second phase would be analyzed in the following weeks.

Crown prosecutors said they received enough evidence to charge two retired officers.

Retired provincial police officer Alain Juneau was charged with sexual assault and assault, allegedly committed between 1992-94 in Schefferville, Que.

The second officer is JeanLuc Vollant, charged with three counts including rape and sexual assault, between 1980-86, also in Schefferville.

Both men were released on conditions and are scheduled to appear in court in January.

JOHN KENNEY There were initially 14 complaints against six officers in Val d’Or, Que. As the probe expanded, there were 38 complaints of police abuse in the province.