Police officers want slurs banned in Montreal

Montreal police have asked the city to make it illegal for citizens to hurl insults such as "pig" and "doughnut-eater" at officers.

Mayor Gerald Tremblay said yesterday his public security committee is mulling the request by Montreal's police brotherhood to slap offenders with fines.

The union wants Tremblay to make it illegal for members of the public to fire insults at cops, regardless of whether they are profanity-laced.

"It's something that will be addressed - we know that other cities have passed some bylaws considering that subject," said Tremblay, stressing the city has not made any concrete decisions about banning indignities directed at police.

Chief-Insp. Paul Chablo, communications director for Montreal's police force, said lawyers from the department and the city are examining the feasibility of such a rule.

"The key factor is ensuring that it becomes a useful tool for the officers involved, but at the same time it doesn't infringe on anybody's rights," he said.