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QUEBEC — Martin Prud’homme, the chief of Quebec’s provincial police, has been temporarily suspended pending an investigation into an allegation he committed criminal offences.

Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault told reporters Prud’homme has not been arrested, but he was relieved of his duties Wednesday after the government learned of the allegation a day earlier.

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Guilbault said the investigation will be conducted by Quebec’s police watchdog. She named the police force’s deputy director, Mario Bouchard, as his interim replacement.

“As minister of public security I was informed yesterday … of an allegation involving criminal offences involving the director of the Surete du Quebec, Martin Prud’homme,” Guilbault told reporters. She wouldn’t give any details of the nature of the allegation or when the offences are alleged to have occurred.

Guilbault said the decision to temporarily suspend Prud’homme was “administrative” and officially made by the secretariat that advises the government on senior public servants.