As the efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 have intensified across the country, the role of police in enforcing social distancing measures has become more pronounced. While on Sunday Premier Francois Legault said that the primary role of law enforcement is to inform the population of the measures in place, police in Montreal and Quebec City as well as the Surete du Quebec have reportedly been called upon to intervene in gatherings. On Monday Sherbrooke Police Chief Dany McConnell was quoted in several local media as stating that fines of between $1,000 and $6,000 could be leveled against anyone who does not comply with the government bans on public assembly. Isabelle Gendron of the SPS confirmed this information to The Record, although she stated that at this point the focus is on making people aware of the government directives and their importance. Gendron also said that as the city moves up its emergency measures scale, the police response will intensify. “We are not there yet,” she said. Published in the Tuesday, March 24 edition of The Record.
