Mayor Denis Coderre is once again sticking by Montreal police chief Philippe Pichet despite calls for his resignation over revelations the police department spied on reporters—saying to force him Pichet before a public inquiry into the matter amounts to a "public lynching."
“If you [are alleged to have done] something and say, ‘no, I didn’t do it,’ am I going to lynch you publicly? My definition of civilization is to be against that," he told reporters Sunday, adding that Pichet has not offered his resignation.
Coderre maintained it would be unfair to have Pichet resign or temporarily step aside from his duties as chief before a public inquiry even gets underway into the extent Quebec police forces spied on journalists.
Pichet was hand-picked by Coderre last year to replace Marc Parent, and was sworn in as the city's top cop in August.
Both the provincial and municipal opposition parties have repeatedly called for Pichet to be suspended during the investigation into the spying allegations.
While Coderre remained steadfast Sunday that would not happen, he says the city's auditor general will be conducting an administrative review of the Montreal police force, outside of his official duties.
The Public Security Commission that oversees the police will also be meeting to look into the practise of spying on journalists. It will produce a report that will be made public.