Brossard, Quebec's 12th-largest city, to finally get its own police station

Brossard, on Montreal's South Shore, has grown by 20 per cent in the last decade, yet it'sthe only Quebec municipality with more than 50,000 residents without its own police station.

But that's finally going to change.

"We have at least 1,500 businesses on our territory, major economic development projects, three REM (Rseau express mtropolitain) stations, and we will very soon pass the milestone of 100,000 residents,"said Brossard Mayor Doreen Assaad.

Assaad credits Catherine Fournier, the new mayor of Longueuilwho was elected last November, with pushing the project forward.

"The police station in Brossard quickly became one of our team's priorities," said Fournier.

The population of Brossard has increased by 20 per cent in the last 10 years, making it the 12th-biggest city in the province. It's served by theLongueuil police service, which is also responsible forBoucherville, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Saint-Lambert and Longueuil.

Urgent calls are all answered within two or three minutes, said Longueuil police Chief Fady Dagher.

However, a station in Brossardwill bringthe police closer to that population, Daghersaid.

Longueuil's police chief has been focused on developing his service as a model ofcommunity policing. He told Radio-Canada the new station is in keeping with that model.

"There will probably be some hiring, especially for reception at the counter. And there will be staff transfers to that position. We will see how we will do it," he said.

The Longueuil agglomeration council's security committeewill be going over the details, such as site selection and cost estimates.The new station is expected to open in 2023.

"We couldn't have gone faster than we are at the moment,'' said Fournier.''There is the determination and the political will to move as quickly as possible. Especially with the opening of the REM this fall, this is a priority issue."