The search launched to find a 3-year-old child kidnapped by his father in September 2021 in Sainte-Paule, Bas-Saint-Laurent, cost the Sûreté du Québec nearly $ 1 million, shows documents obtained by TVA Nouvelles thanks access to information law.
Among the expenses, civilian and police overtime amounted to $838,182, while travel and other expenses amounted to $142,962, for a total of $981,144.
Following the triggering of an Amber alert on August 31, more than 400 police officers were mobilized for four days and nights to find the father and his son.
“Each time there was hope, given the difficulty that Sainte-Paule represented, we added all the possible staff who could do a little more in the success”, explained the ex-investigator to the Service Quebec City Police (SPVQ) Roger Ferland.
“Every time we come to police operations where it affects children, if we feel that there is hope, we will definitely invest a little more,” explained Mr. Ferland.
This amount does not include the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces or wildlife officers who were also called in for reinforcement in Sainte-Paule.
For comparison, the Sûreté du Québec figures the costs for the Amber alert to find Romy and Norah Carpentier in July 2020 in the Quebec region at $700,000.
“We know that there have been other files that have gone less well; this one, I think we really wanted to be sure to put all the resources in the right place, at the right time and quickly enough, ”analyzed Roger Ferland.
According to him, the Sûreté du Québec did not hesitate to put everything in place for this operation, which he considers almost faultless.
“Yes, there was a success and it was settled very well, so at that time, we find that it’s not expensive, but when it ends less well, that’s where we ask ourselves questions every time,” he noted.
