The Montréal Police Service, officially the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), was established in 1843 to provide organized law enforcement for a growing city. Initially composed of a small group of constables, the service developed gradually, adopting uniforms, structured patrols, and investigative methods by the late 19th century.
Throughout the 20th century, the SPVM expanded its responsibilities in response to the city’s growth and new public safety challenges. Issues such as Prohibition, organized crime, and labour disputes required adaptations in policing methods. In the 1960s and 1970s, the service became more visible during periods of political and social change, including the October Crisis, which drew attention to the balance between public order and civil rights.
Today, the SPVM is among the largest municipal police organizations in Canada. Its history reflects both the development of Montréal as a major urban center and the evolution of modern policing.
1861 – Militia officer, chief of police of Montréal from 1861 to 1865, and postmaster of Montréal from 1874 to 1891, born in Montréal on September 14, 1824.1880 – Composite photograph showing Chief Hercule Paradis surrounded by members of the Montréal Police Department in 1880.1894 – Photograph showing the members of the Montréal Police Department’s tug-of-war team, Canadian champions in 1894.1900 – Photograph of a mosaic of Montréal Police Department staff members in 1900-1901.1920 – Photograph of Police Station No. 13 at the corner of Frontenac and Rouen Streets.1920 – Photograph showing a mosaic of staff members at Police Station No. 14 in 1920.1920 – Photograph showing a police officer driving a van used as an ambulance by the Police Department.1921 – Photograph of Pierre Bélanger, director of the Police Department from 1921 to 1928.1930 – Photograph of Police Station No. 4 (105 Ontario Street East), built in 1871–1872 and demolished in 1962.1930 – Photograph of Police Station No. 20 (formerly Station No. 27—at the corner of Gouin Boulevard and Lajeunesse Street).1930 – Photograph of the building housing Police Station No. 27, Fire Station No. 35, the Provincial Bank of Canada, and broker F.X. Parizeault (6392 Lajeunesse Street, at the corner of Gouin Boulevard).1931 – General view of the construction site for the new fire alarm centre near the former police station.1931 – General view of the construction site for the new fire alarm center near the former police station. The photo is taken facing west.1944 – File on a car photographed from behind and parked in the police garage.1945 – Photograph of Police Station No. 13 located at the corner of Frontenac and Rouen Streets.1948 – Murder of police officers Paquin and Duranleau.1954 – Two police officers and a man, police station.1954 – Photograph of police officers on horseback followed by dignitaries’ cars.1957 – Photograph of the start of construction work on the Montréal police headquarters behind the annex of City Hall (now the Montréal Municipal Court).1961 – Photographic report on a parking lot project at the summit of Mount Royal. It includes aerial views showing the intersection of roads on the mountain, a parking lot, and the police station.
Dalia, a photojournalist hailing from Montreal, is deeply passionate about documenting events and sharing stories about people's lives. She is on track to graduate from Concordia University with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history. Currently, Dalia holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at her school's newspaper, The Concordian. Following graduation, she aims to secure a full-time reporting job at a major news outlet.
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