The union representing Winnipeg's police officers say they're upset with a planned operational review of the police service.

The association said Monday that they're disappointed the review will be conducted by Matrix Consulting Group, a U.S.-based firm "which is known for their lack of concern for safety when making deep cuts to police organizations," according to a release.

The consultants started working on the review in Winnipeg on Monday and the association says it has "little confidence this will be an open and fair process."

"I feel strongly that this could have been a healthy exercise with a Canadian firm that would not guide itself by American safety standards," association president Mike Sutherland said in the release.

"Including all stakeholders would have been a healthy approach and would give Winnipeggers the confidence that changes will only come if their safety is preserved."

River Heights-Fort Garry Coun. John Orlikow is also expressing his concerns that the consultants have no Canadian experience and police association members have not been consulted.

The police association says the timing of the review is premature, given a new police chief has recently started his tenure, and a new board will be implemented in the near future.

The City of Winnipeg hired Matrix in part because it has conducted more than 250 similar police reviews in other cities, a city spokesperson told CBC News.

The spokesperson added that a Matrix employee has also been part of Winnipeg's law enforcement accreditation team and is therefore familiar with how the police service operates.