Montreal police chief Yvan Delorme is refusing to comment on a letter he sent to his officers last week, saying that he supports an election promise made by Gerald Tremblay.
Mayor Tremblay is quoted as saying that no officers will lose jobs if he wins a third term of office.
On Oct. 6., Delorme sent an internal email entitled "Encouraging news", to all police and civilians on the force." The note said management's top priorities were saving jobs and maintaining public safety and that it "welcomes favorably the announcement by team-Tremblay-Union Montreal."
On Wednesday, Tremblay denied making any such commitments.
"I didn't promise anything. I gave him a strict mandate...I said you have to balance your budget without laying off people," Tremblay told reporters.
Meanwhile, Ville Marie borough mayor Benoit Labonte, who is running under the Vision Montreal banner to be a councillor, says Delorme is meddling in politics.
"You know when you are police chief in any city, and especially in Montreal, you need to stay above the fray. You don't want to be involved and you don't have to be involved in any political campaign," said Labonte.
The political candidate says the issue is not the promise to maintain the number of officers, which Vision Montreal has also made, but simply that police officers should stay out of municipal affairs.
"I was very, very, very surprised when I read the email. I deplore greatly the way it was written," said Labonte.
A spokesman from the Police Brotherhood said the union was happy with the news there would be no reductions in the police force, but it was surprised Delorme made a specific reference to a political party.
Tremblay said Delorme's actions were inappropriate.
"Public servants should not get involved in politics. I think they have a responsibility to manage their services and public funds," said Tremblay.
Chief Inspector Paul Chablo, director of communications for the Montreal police department, told CTV News that Delorme's decision was a "human error".
Chablo said Delorme regrets mentioning Tremblay and his party, had no intentions of getting involved in the political campaign, and will not be sending out any similar emails in future.
