Montreal police discipline 4 senior officers for role in City Hall protest

Firefighters, police officers, blue collar workers and others opposed to Bill 3 marched from Montreal's Palais des congrès to the Queen Elizabeth Hotel to meet Treasury Board President Martin Coiteux. 

The demonstration against Quebec's pension reform bill came just hours after the news broke that four senior Montreal police officers would be disciplined for their role in a violent protest at Montreal City Hall in August.

On Aug. 18, a large number of people opposed to Quebec's proposed pension reform bill assembled outside of City Hall.

Some lit a fire in the middle of the street. A group of protesters then proceeded to barge into city council's chambers, flipping over furniture and throwing papers around.

Police chief remarked on security issues

After the incident, Montreal police chief Marc Parent said he was disappointed that members of the police force allowed protesters to barge into city hall.

He said he could not help but notice there were shortcomings in security.

Parent assembled a team of investigators to look at how police handled the protest. 

Cmdr. Ian Lafrenière said four senior officers face discipline — not for their actions, but rather for their lack of action. 

At the time, the head of the Montreal Police Brotherhood reportedly said commanders ordered officers not to intervene in the protest.

Lafrenière said the picture of what happened is not that black and white.

"If it was that simple, that clear, those commanding officers would have been charged days after the event," Lafrenière said.  

The city has already taken action against other employees, suspending firefighters and city workers who took part in the demonstration.

On Tuesday,  Ronald Martin, head of the Montreal firefighters' union, was suspended six months without pay.

Six firefighters also lost their jobs.

The results of the disciplinary investigation will be made public in the weeks to come, Lafrenière said.