Since 2020, Quebec police have lost four guns, raising concerns about accountability and safety among critics and experts alike.
So, CBC Montreal reached out to 12 police forces across the province, including Laval and Quebec City, to see how many service weapons went missing. Most of them reported zero losses, but the Montreal police admitted to losing three handguns.
One of those guns was taken during a traffic stop in 2021 when an officer was attacked. The suspect, Ali Ngarukiye, managed to disarm the officer and took off with the gun, which was never found. He was caught later in Toronto, but the weapon was still missing.
Another handgun went missing at a shooting range in 2022 due to a data entry mistake, which was only caught during an inventory check in 2024. It wasn’t even a service weapon, just one from the police’s inventory.
Then there was a third gun that was misclassified in their system. The police spokesperson said they fixed that error, but it raises questions about their tracking methods.
As for the Sûreté du Québec, they lost a Glock 17 during an officer’s medical leave in 2022, and they still haven’t found it. Critics are saying that police should be held to a higher standard, especially when they’re asking for more funding to tackle crime.
There are strict rules about how police should manage and secure their weapons, but it seems like something went wrong. The missing SQ gun was supposed to be logged and locked up, but when the officer returned, it was just gone.
They’re still trying to figure out what happened, and an internal investigation is underway. So far, nothing unusual has been found, but it’s concerning that a gun could just disappear like that.
Experts are saying that police need to be “beyond reproach” when it comes to handling firearms. With rising crime rates, it’s crucial for the public to trust that police are managing their weapons properly.
One professor pointed out that losing any guns is unacceptable, especially when police are supposed to be the ones fighting against violence. It’s a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
Former police leaders agree that any missing firearm should be taken seriously. They stress the importance of figuring out what went wrong and making necessary changes to prevent it from happening again.
In the end, the public needs to feel confident that police are accountable for their actions. Quebec’s public security ministry hasn’t commented on the situation yet, but it’s clear that this is a topic that needs more attention.
