Montrealer’s life ‘impacted’ by gender-based police stops

Oct 23, 2024 Story by: Editor

A Montreal resident in his 50s, Nigel Berkley , is teaming up with Fo Niemi, the Executive Director of the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) , to initiate a legal challenge against gender-based discrimination.

Berkley, who resides in NDG, has experienced frequent stops by Montreal police (SPVM) in his neighborhood. The vehicle he drives is registered in his mother’s name, a fact that he claims the SPVM officers cite as the reason for their repeated stops.

“Being Black, it’s a challenge,” Berkley expressed. “It’s a real challenge, especially within your own community. I go to New York; I go to other places, and I never have problems with the cops. It’s only in Montreal and around NDG.”

These encounters have significantly affected Berkley’s life. Once a DJ both in Montreal and the Caribbean—a profession he cherished—he has had to reconsider his career due to these police stops.

“I used to be a DJ, but with all these [police] stops going on, I stopped because if I go to an event, you know, being a DJ, you’re [in close proximity] to alcohol,” Berkley explained. “It’s like I would be giving them the reason to [pull me over].”

Since the spring, this marks the fourth time Berkley has been pulled over. In June, after attending a BBQ with friends, he noticed the police officers before he entered his car, which led to them following him home.

He was stopped near Chester and Walkley Avenues, where the police reportedly informed him that the reason for the stop was that he was “driving a car that belongs to a woman.”

“‘Yes, it’s my mom. I’m allowed to drive the car,'” Berkley replied to the officers, who subsequently checked his license.

The questioning then shifted abruptly.

“‘What happened with the shooting incident on the corner of Moncler and Fielding?'” the officers asked Berkley. He replied, “I know nothing about it.” The officer responded, “You need to tell me, or else you’re going to always have this problem.”

Berkley firmly stated, “This is something that definitely needs to stop.”

He recounted being stopped several times with his 18-year-old son present. His most recent encounter occurred last Saturday, prompting him to speak out publicly about the issue.

“I went to play some games with my friends, and on my way home, that’s when I had the run-in again with the police… It brings fear,” Berkley said.

CityNews contacted the Montreal police, who stated that they could not comment on specific police interventions to avoid influencing any ongoing legal, ethical, or disciplinary processes.

“If you feel aggrieved during an interaction with a police officer, you may file a complaint with the SPVM or an independent body,” the police said in a statement.

They added, “Vehicle interception is governed by the Highway Safety Code (CSR) . Police officers may intercept a vehicle at any time if they find that an offense has been committed under the CSR. Police officers also have the power to intercept a vehicle and ask the driver to identify themselves in order to verify the documents required by law to drive a vehicle…”

In a related development, a Quebec Superior Court judge ruled in September that racial profiling is a systemic issue within the SPVM. Justice Dominique Poulin held the city accountable for profiling conducted by its police officers and ordered the City of Montreal to compensate $5,000 to individuals who were unjustifiably arrested and racially profiled.

Since 2019, the SPVM has released two reports indicating that racialized individuals are disproportionately targeted by police during random street checks. Source: Montreal City News