Philippe Pichet was all smiles when he walked in to the hall d’honneur at Montreal city hall Friday afternoon.

Pichet became Montreal’s 38th police chief when he took his oath alongside Mayor Denis Coderre, who called Pichet the right choice for the city.

“With the competence and the proximity of a director like Mr. Pichet it will make a huge difference of the foundation that we already put up together,” Coderre said.

Pichet gained credibility for his work coordinating the police response to student demonstrations in 2012.

The challenges facing the new chief include cybercrime and radicalization, problems Coderre says Pichet will be able to tackle since he worked on the city's anti-terrorism advisory board.

But the more taxing issue on his plate is a strained relationship with the police brotherhood.

For about a year, officers have been wearing camouflage pants to protest Quebec’s pension reform. Hours before the ceremony, the brotherhood announced it was boycotting the event but President Yves Francoeur wished Pichet well.

“I will work with them, but in time. First I'm going to finish that day for me. It's my day today, from Monday I will do what I have to do to work with them. They are part of the solution,” Pichet said.

As the force’s assistant director, his former role before being handpicked to become chief, Pichet also worked alongside outgoing police chief Marc Parent.

Parent, who has been at the helm of the Montreal police since 2010, announced earlier this year that he would not seek a new mandate, citing personal reasons. He too, did not attend Friday’s event but sent his congratulations to his successor.

The opposition agrees with the appointment of Pichet but says the process should be more transparent.

“There's no reason why the vast majority of our public security meetings should be held behind closed doors, if Vancouver and Toronto can debate these issues publicly, so can we,” said Projet Montreal councillor Alex Norris.

Pichet joined the force in 1991. During his speech, he stressed the importance of working together to improve the police force.