Toronto police wear uniforms, guns at rally

As many as 500 officers carrying their guns -- defying orders from the police chief -- marched in uniform to city hall yesterday as part of a show of strength by the police union.

Clutching placards reading "Get tough on crime, not on cops" and boisterously chanting "Work for free? Not me," about 2,500 officers and supporters loudly made their way up Bay Street from the waterfront in a bid to put pressure on Mayor David Miller to take sides in the stalled and increasingly bitter contract talks between the union and the police board.

At the start of the march, which included firefighters, paramedics, transit workers and police officers from other forces, some uniformed officers could be seen removing badge numbers from their uniforms.

In response to a call from the union this week that officers wear their uniforms to the rally, the police chief warned they would be "subject to disciplinary action."

The march ended in a noon rally in front of city hall, where the voices echoed through Nathan Phillips Square to cries of "Where's the mayor? Who knows?"

The noisy expression of solidarity appeared to make little impression on Toronto Police Services Board chair Alok Mukherjee.

In a news conference three hours later, he called on Toronto Police Association president Dave Wilson to agree to quick, binding arbitration.

That's exactly what Mr. Wilson said he doesn't want. "To move to arbitration shows that they don't want to have any relationship at all and it will continue to cause a lot of problems with morale," he said.

"The rally was about focusing back on the issue and the issue is that we don't have a collective agreement and we want to negotiate an agreement and move forward."

Mr. Wilson called on the mayor, who sits as a member of the police board, to take a stand.

"He can't step back and say that it's someone else's leadership. It's his leadership as mayor, it's his leadership as a person on that board to resolve this contract."

But after the demonstrators had cleared, Mr. Miller said at city hall that there has been "a real narrowing of the issues" since the two sides met through a mediator on Sunday and then face to face in five hours of talks on Monday that lasted into the early hours of Tuesday.

He reiterated his invitation for Mr. Wilson to return to the bargaining table.

"It is very clear what the issues are. The police board has addressed the majority of those issues and the association has to give, too."

"It can't all be one way," Mr. Miller continued.

"That is not a negotiation. It is time for the association to find a way to say yes."

The mayor said if the parties can't negotiate a deal, "then it is time to agree to arbitrate these issues so they can be resolved rapidly."

Asked if it was either legal or appropriate for uniformed officers with guns to participate in yesterday's protest walk to city hall, Mr. Miller said "it is not appropriate because those uniforms are meant to support, enforce the law."

He emphasized that "every officer has the right to speak out about the issues affecting them personally . . . but not [while]wearing the uniform."

On Monday, Chief Bill Blair forbade any on-duty officer to take part in the march. He also stressed that any off-duty officers attending the rally in uniform would face disciplinary action.

Wearing an earpiece and standing at a vantage point above the rally at Nathan Phillips Square, Superintendent Paul Gottschalk was an officer policing the police yesterday.

"They've got a right to demonstrate. They've got a permit," he said. Asked if he felt differently about patrolling fellow officers, he replied: "My role here is to make this go smoothly. That's my job,"

Neil Sweeney, a retired Police Services Act hearing official, said officers who breached the chief's orders could face a number of possible sanctions.

"It could be anything from a reprimand to a note in [the officer's]personal file to a couple of days off," Mr. Sweeney said.

"Technically, it could be disobeying an unlawful order," he said. However, Mr. Sweeney noted that it was highly unlikely any officers would be charged under the act.

"Something like this is usually dealt with at the unit level," he said.

At yesterday's march and rally, morale, and support of the "brotherhood," was anything but low.

"I think [police]work too hard and get too little for it," Toronto paramedic John Stone said. "They're not getting the respect they deserve and I hope this draws some attention for them."

Mr. Stone said solidarity is key to showing the public and politicians how serious they are about their job.

Firefighter Frank Ramagnano said his colleagues were out supporting the police because "they're our brothers and sisters in the emergency field and we support them on and off duty."

Their numbers were bolstered by officers who poured in from other forces, including Durham, York and Hamilton.

"We're here to support our fellow officers," said Durham Constable Malcolm Wilson, wearing a blue T-shirt emblazoned with the words "Cops have rights too."

Constable Mark Blacker, a 26-year-old officer from York Regional Police, agreed.

"If this doesn't go well for Toronto police, when it comes to our negotiations, we'll be in the same boat."

As the demonstration made its way up Bay Street, people who work in the area gathered to watch.

"This is probably the most walking they've done all year. I'm surprised they didn't take their patrol cars on the route," said Dean Clark, 36, who works as an audio technician.

"I think they're paid well enough. I wouldn't hand out an extra cent."

Paul Lalla, 55, disagreed. "I wish them all the best. This city is getting too dangerous and we need a deterrent. I'm not willing to risk my life out there so anyone that is should be compensated for it. If it's going to take $10 a week out of my pocket to pay them, I'd be willing to do that. We need them."

With a report from Jennifer Lewington

Policing costs

The police services is the largest single item in the city's operating budget

Police Budget

2000: $557.3M

2006 est.: $711.5M

Since 1998, the cost of policing in the city of Toronto has risen on average 4.65% a year from $510-million to almost $700-million in 2005

93% of the Toronto Police Service budget goes to salaries and benefits.