City worries police camo pants will provoke violence at weekend rally
City may seek court injunction to force officers to wear regular uniforms
Last Updated: Friday, March 13, 2009 | 8:23 PM ET
CBC News
Montreal police officials worry that a pressure tactic by officers to wear camouflage pants instead of their regular uniforms will only heighten tensions at rally this weekend against police brutality.
Montreal police officers have been wearing camouflage pants and jeans since last summer in a bid to pressure the city to negotiate a new collective agreement. (CBC) Top brass at the Montreal police service say they may apply for a court injunction Friday in Quebec Superior Court to force offices to wear their uniforms after Quebec's essential services council refused to get involved in the matter Thursday night.
Montreal's police officers have been wearing camouflage pants or jeans since last summer as a pressure tactic in ongoing contract negotiations.
Chief Insp. Paul Chablo said the city is worried the officers' military-style dress may provoke protesters at the rally, which has become increasingly violent each year. Last year, 47 people were arrested.
"We don't want a police officer to be mistaken for a protester and vice versa. So to us it's very important that officers are clearly identifiable," said Chablo.
Sunday's rally is being organized by a group called the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality and is timed to coincide with International Day against Police Brutality.
Police will wear uniform pants only with new contract: Union
Organizer Gabrielle Potvin said some people could respond negatively if the police continue to wear military-style pants.
"For us, it's a type of provocation. The police is not an army, they are not above the law," she said.
The Montreal Police Brotherhood, the union representing police officers, says officers have answered close to one million calls without incident since the clothing protest began last summer.
'There is absolutely no danger for the public [or] for the security of the community.'—Yves Francoeur, police union president
Union president Yves Francoeur says his 4,500 members are always professional and prepared.
He said the style of the police officers' pants will not compromise their ability to do their jobs this weekend.
"There is absolutely no danger for the public [or] for the security of the community," Francoeur said.
He said if the city wants the officers to end the pressure tactic, it should return to the bargaining table to negotiate a new collective agreement.
Police officers have been without a contract for two years.
