Peel Regional Police Chief Mike Metcalf is warning his rank and file officers they're risking disciplinary action if they "escalate" job action next week by wearing baseball caps and buttons.
The Police Services Board and the Peel Regional Police Association (PRPA), which represents more than 2,400 uniform and civilian members of the police force, are involved in a nasty contract dispute.
For more than a month, officers have been on a work-to-rule campaign, refusing to work overtime and issuing warnings instead of traffic tickets. The latter is costing the City of Mississauga thousands of dollars in daily revenue.
While Metcalf fell short of saying that every officer who wears a cap or button after begin Nov. 15 will be disciplined, he said he plans to monitor the situation closely.
"I don't want the citizens to get confused to the point where the officers can't be recognized as officers," he said today. "I know that we're at a point where emotions are running high, so I don't want to appear like I'm overreacting with anyone."
In a letter to officers dated Wednesday, the Chief said it's his responsibility "to ensure that this Region is provided with adequate and effective policing," and that public confidence in policing is maintained.
"It is essential that this job action not compromise the safety and security of the citizens of the Region and I'm pleased that you've honoured your promise to date," he writes. "Recently, I have become aware of the PRPA plan to escalate this job action as of Nov. 15 by directing members to wear baseball caps and buttons to draw public attention to the current labour dispute. I would remind all officers of ... the Uniform and Equipment policies of this police service. This Directive is in place for both officer safety reasons and to ensure public recognition of the police. Officers are expected to govern themselves accordingly when it comes to the unilateral alteration of their uniform. Where such action impacts public confidence in policing, we will take the appropriate action. The reputation of the Peel Regional Police cannot be impacted by this ongoing labour dispute."
Interim PRPA president Bruce Chapman wouldn't comment today on what measures are being taken next week, saying only that an announcement will be made early in the week "regarding the ongoing job action."
Chapman said any further job action "will not compromise the safety of our citizens."
"The men and women of this service are getting frustrated the longer we go without a contract," Chapman said.
Police sources said officers have also begun withholding their "stat sheets," which give their superiors and the organization as a whole, a breakdown of criminal charges laid, tickets issued, traffic stops and other enforcement initiatives.
The membership, which includes 1,700 officers, has been without a contract since Jan. 1.
The dispute is going to an arbitrator, but both the PSB and the association have conceded that process will likely take several months. An arbitrator and an arbitration date have yet to be selected.
Contentious issues include benefits during maternity leave and other leaves of absence, the transfer process, the promotion process and shift work.
lrosella@mississauga.net