Article – I’ve spent the last two days speaking with concerned parents, school officials, and community advocates following what many are describing as a deeply troubling incident at École Secondaire Henri-Bourassa in Montreal-Nord.
Last Thursday, what should have been a routine school presentation by a Montreal police officer turned into a distressing situation when the officer accidentally displayed explicit images from a sexual assault investigation to a classroom of students.
“My daughter came home visibly upset,” said Marie Tremblay, mother of a 15-year-old student who witnessed the incident. “As parents, we trust schools and police to protect our children, not expose them to traumatic content.”
According to multiple accounts, the officer was conducting a presentation on cyber safety when he connected his work computer to the classroom projector. While searching for presentation materials, several graphic images from an active investigation file appeared on screen.
The Montreal Police Service (SPVM) confirmed the incident in a statement yesterday. “We acknowledge this serious error in judgment and protocol. The officer in question has been temporarily reassigned while we conduct a thorough investigation,” said Commander Jean-Pierre Brabant.
School principal Danielle Lavoie sent a letter to parents explaining the situation and outlining the psychological support being offered to affected students. “We’re providing immediate counseling services and have established a response team to address ongoing concerns,” the letter stated.
Child psychologist Dr. Sophie Bergeron from Université de Montréal cautions that such exposure can have lasting impacts. “Adolescents process disturbing images differently than adults. Some may experience anxiety, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts following exposure to violent or sexual content,” she explained in our phone conversation.
The incident has sparked debate about proper protocols for police presentations in educational settings. Québec’s Education Minister Bernard Drainville called the situation “completely unacceptable” and indicated his ministry will work with law enforcement to review current guidelines.
Community advocate and parent Monique Dagenais from the Montreal-Nord Parents Coalition expressed frustration about the incident. “This neighborhood already has a complicated relationship with police. Incidents like this further erode trust that’s taken years to build,” she told me while we sat at a local café yesterday.
The SPVM has confirmed they’re implementing immediate changes to presentation protocols, including mandatory separate devices for school presentations that cannot access case files.
Parents I’ve spoken with remain concerned about potential long-term effects. “My son hasn’t wanted to talk about it, but he’s been quieter than usual,” said Robert Lemieux, father of a 14-year-old student. “How do we know what psychological impact this might have weeks or months from now?”
School board spokesperson Alain Perron assured me that follow-up support will continue. “We’ve established a dedicated phone line for parents and additional counseling sessions throughout the coming weeks,” he said.
As our community processes this incident, larger questions emerge about the boundaries between law enforcement educational outreach and the protection of young people’s psychological wellbeing. The balance is delicate, and this unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when protocols fail.
The school has scheduled a parent meeting for next Tuesday evening to address ongoing concerns and outline additional support measures. In the meantime, both school and police officials urge parents to maintain open conversations with their children about what they experienced.
