Montreal police and the crisis of public trust

Between March 28 and 30, 2025, three people were killed by police in Quebec, including 41-year-old Abisay Cruz in Montreal. His death prompted public demonstrations and renewed scrutiny of the role of police in marginalized communities. One of the demonstrations was attended by community worker and organizer Stéphanie Germain, who spoke with CUTV to reflect on the broader implications of recent events.

Germain, who works closely with racialized and marginalized communities in Montreal, described a climate of anxiety and mistrust following the deaths. While not involved in organizing the protest, she joined as a participant and advocate for community safety and accountability. Germain noted that the lack of information from authorities in the aftermath of Cruz’s death contributed to community frustration and further eroded public trust towards the SPVM.

Germain also emphasized the systemic nature of police violence, linking it to long-standing issues of racial profiling and social neglect. She argued that the current public safety model disproportionately harms marginalized groups and fails to address the root causes of violence. Discussing her own experience as a community worker, she explained that communities often feel that their efforts toward social cohesion and prevention are undermined when fatal police interventions occur. She shared that youth becomes less trusting of community workers when they tell them to act according to societal expectations, but they continue to see their peers die.

She also highlighted the how community workers are frequently under-resourced but central to harm reduction and crisis response efforts, so support from bigger institutions, as well as some type of reform, is necessary. Germain called for a reevaluation of public safety frameworks, advocating for a shift toward community-based and health-oriented approaches.