BEI: Quebec's independent investigations bureau and the police officer

The BEI, or Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes (Quebec's independent investigations bureau), is the specialized police force that conducts investigations when a police intervention in Quebec ends in a death or a serious injury. A police officer can work there as an investigator, on the condition of leaving their police force. This text applies to women and men police officers alike.

What the law says

The Police Act (chapter P-13.1), up to date as of August 12, 2026 on LégisQuébec, devotes its chapter III.1 to independent investigations. Section 289.5 establishes the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes. It makes it a specialized police force whose members are peace officers throughout Quebec.

According to the BEI website, the Act that established it was passed on May 9, 2013 and the Bureau began operating on June 27, 2016.

When the BEI investigates

Section 289.1 requires an independent investigation when a person, other than an on-duty police officer, is in one of these situations during a police intervention or while detained by a police force.

• The person dies
• The person suffers a serious injury
• The person is injured by a firearm used by a police officer

The same section provides for an investigation when the Bureau is informed of an allegation of a sexual offence committed by a police officer in the performance of their duties, unless the director considers it frivolous or unfounded.

In exceptional cases, the minister may also instruct the Bureau to investigate another event involving a peace officer (section 289.3). The BEI annual report adds allegations of a criminal offence against a police officer when the victim or complainant is a member of the First Nations or Inuit.

How an investigation unfolds

The director of the police force responsible for the intervention or the detention must inform the Bureau without delay (section 289.2). The BEI director appoints a lead investigator for each investigation. That investigator cannot lead an investigation into a police force of which they were a member or employee (section 289.19).

Once the investigation is completed, the director sends the file to the Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales (Quebec's public prosecutor) and, where applicable, to the coroner, the Commissaire à la déontologie policière, the internal affairs of the police force or the Protecteur du citoyen (section 289.3.1). The Directeur des poursuites criminelles et pénales decides whether or not to lay charges.

The director may end an investigation if convinced that the police intervention did not contribute to the death or serious injury, unless public confidence in police officers could be seriously compromised (section 289.1.1). The director must then make the reasons public (section 289.21.1).

Who works there

Section 289.5 lists the members of the Bureau.

• A director and an assistant director
• Investigation coordinators
• Investigation supervisors
• Investigators

The director and the assistant director are retired judges or lawyers who have been members of the Barreau du Québec for at least 15 years. They must never have been peace officers, except as members of the Bureau (section 289.9).

The director promotes parity between investigators who have never been peace officers and those who have (section 289.10). An investigator cannot be a peace officer, except as a member of the Bureau (section 289.11).

The 2024-2025 figures

The BEI Rapport annuel de gestion 2024-2025 covers the fiscal year from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

Source: Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, Rapport annuel de gestion 2024-2025, page 11 (key figures) and page 29.

According to the same report, 445 independent investigations have been launched since 2016-2017. The undated "Profil et sélection" page of the website mentions a team of 32 investigators.

Becoming a BEI investigator

The "Faire carrière au BEI" page gives the prerequisites, drawn from section 289.11 of the Act.

• Be a Canadian citizen
• Be of good moral character
• Not have been found guilty of a Criminal Code offence

A candidate who is or was a peace officer must have at least 5 years of experience in investigations into crimes against the person. A candidate who is a police officer when applying commits to resigning upon hiring. A candidate who has never been a peace officer must hold an undergraduate university degree in a relevant discipline. Everyone hired takes the BEI investigator training program.

Calls for applications appear in the news section of the website. Candidates undergo a security check, according to the "Profil et sélection" page.

This text summarizes public documents. It is neither legal advice nor union advice.

Further reading

• UPAC: Quebec's anti-corruption unit
• How to become a police officer in Quebec: the path step by step
• Police officer jobs

Frequently asked questions

Who is the BEI?

The BEI is the Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, established by section 289.5 of the Police Act. It is a specialized police force. It investigates when a person dies, suffers a serious injury or is injured by a police officer's firearm during a police intervention or a detention.

Is it possible to become an investigator without being a police officer?

Yes, at the BEI. The Act aims for parity there between civilian investigators and former peace officers. A candidate who has never been a peace officer must hold an undergraduate university degree in a relevant discipline.

How do you become an investigator in Quebec?

At the BEI, you must meet the conditions of section 289.11 of the Police Act, then answer a call for applications published on the Bureau's website. A former police officer must have 5 years of experience in investigations into crimes against the person.

What does section 262 of the Police Act say?

Section 262 requires a police officer met as a witness about a complaint against another police officer to provide a full statement and attest to being its author. The officer may be assisted by a lawyer. The statement cannot be used against them, except in a prosecution for perjury.

What does section 119 of the Police Act say?

Section 119 provides for the automatic dismissal of a police officer or special constable found guilty of an act referred to in paragraph 3 of section 115 that is prosecutable only by indictment.

How many investigations did the BEI open in 2024-2025?

The BEI 2024-2025 annual report counts 64 independent investigations taken on. Another 54 investigations into allegations of criminal offences were added.

Sources

• LégisQuébec, Police Act (chapter P-13.1), sections 119, 262 and 289.1 to 289.27, up to date as of August 12, 2026
• Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, Rapport annuel de gestion 2024-2025, 2025, pages 10, 11, 28, 29, 33 and 34
• Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, Historique, consulted on October 15, 2026
• Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, Diffusion de l'information, consulted on October 15, 2026
• Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, Faire carrière au BEI, consulted on October 15, 2026
• Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes, Profil et sélection, consulted on October 15, 2026