Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay has named seasoned investigator Marc Parent the new chief of the city's police force.

Marc Parent is a former investigator and director of the police force's northern division. (Montreal Police)Parent, 46, currently serves as the director of the police force's northern division, which includes Montreal North, a neighbourhood known for clashes between youths and police.

The FBI Academy graduate is considered by many to be close to the grassroots and an outsider to the force's top brass.

Parent studied major investigations and anti-terrorism techniques at the FBI Academy and has headed the Montreal force's tactical squad.

He beat four other candidates, including the other top contender, Jean-Guy Gagnon, who has worked as outgoing Chief Yvan Delorme's right-hand man for many years.

Tremblay said Parent's solid understand of public safety concerns and extensive experience made him a strong candidate. He also said Parent is a good choice to close the gap between Montreal's police force and visible minorities.

Fo Niemi, a spoksperson for the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations, said he was pleased with Parent's appointment.

"This is a man who doesn't require much intellectual discussion about what diversity is," Niemi said. "He knows it, he lives it, and he works with it."

Montreal's public security commission must approve the selection, which should happen by the end of this week. Tremblay's choice then has to be cleared by city hall and, finally, by Quebec's public security ministry.