The Montreal police officers who will be on duty at Jean Beliveau’s state funeral Wednesday will wear their regular uniforms, their union has announced.
Mayor Denis Coderre tweeted Thursday that he believed the police should eschew their camo pants and red caps for the official uniform at the ceremony for the Habs legend.
The police have been sporting the non-regulation garb since July in protest of Bill 3, the Liberals’ pension reform bill that was passed into law Dec. 4.
Public Security Minister Lise Theriault said the police should follow the example of Quebec’s MNAs, who stood together in solidarity Thursday to commemorate the victims of the Ecole Polytechnique shooting.
“I think in that case for Mr. Beliveau I think the police have to do the same thing like the politicians,” she said.
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In a news release, the Police Brotherhood made their motives for the wardrobe change very clear.
“This decision is based on paying tribute to this man, his family and his admirers in the context of a state funeral,” it read.
The brotherhood also extended its condolences to the Beliveau family and to his mourning fans.
Coderre responded through a spokesperson saying he is satisfied his demands have been met for the funeral, but now that Bill 3 has been adopted, he wants the police to revert back to their official uniform permanently.
