A former Montreal police officer and minor hockey coach on the city’s South Shore has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting young boys over a 25-year period.
François Lamarre, 71, who went by the name Frank, is accused of assaulting four boys between 1972 and 1997. They were between the ages of nine and 16 at the time.
Lamarre was arrested Tuesday and faces charges of gross indecency, indecent exposure, sexual assault, sexual touching and invitation to sexual touching.
Greenfield Park’s borough president, Robert Myles, called Wednesday a “very black day for Greenfield Park.” Myles said the allegations that a trusted community member may have inflicted harm on young people were “very distressing.”
“I think a lot of people just sat on this for the longest time and never really came out with anything, and here we are today that some people built enough courage to denounce it,” Myles said.
Myles said his office has put together a number of resources for victims.
Longueuil police believe there could be other victims, including from other parts of Canada and the United States. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.
“If you’ve been victim of that person or anyone else doing sexual infraction, today you’re not alone,” said Longueuil police Sgt. Patrick Barrière. “Investigators are there to listen to your story, to help you.”
Alleged victims knew Lamarre was a police officer
Lamarre was a hockey coach in the 1970s and 80s in Greenfield Park, now part of Longueuil.
He lived on Springfield and Campbell streets, and police say some of the assaults are alleged to have taken place at his homes. Other assaults allegedly took place in his vehicles, which included a Ford and a Cadillac, and at hockey arenas.
Some of the boys were hockey players, while others were Lamarre’s neighbours. The complainants told investigators some of the assaults took place over several years.
Police say the alleged incidents did not happen while Lamarre was on duty, but the boys were aware that Lamarre was a police officer. Lamarre retired in 1994.
Lamarre has been released pending a court appearance later this month. Under the conditions of his release, he is not allowed to speak to any of the complainants or anyone under the age of 18.
Anyone with information is asked to call Longueuil police at 450-463-7211.
