Coderre stands by Montreal police chief, won't have 'public lynching'

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderreis defiantly standing by hispolice chief aftermore revelations surfaced involving the surveillance of two La Pressejournalists by the city's police department.

Coderretold reporters that he will await the results of the provincial inquiryinto the matter before taking action.

• Police sought access to 'oral communications and telecommunications' of LaPressejournalists

Removing police Chief Philippe Pichetbefore knowing all the facts would amount to a "public lynching," he told reporters Sunday.

Coderre said he recognizes the importance of the "freedom of the press" but said it's also "important to respect the rule of law."

"There is a process and we'll verify all the facts," he said.

In the meantime, Coderre said the city'sPublic Security Commission, which oversees the police force, would meet behind closed doors to discuss the issue and, ultimately, produce a report that will be made public.

The city's inspector general,Denis Gallant, willalso investigate with the help of a soon-to-be appointed judge.

Gallant will be doing the work outside of his mandate as inspector general, a position which doesn't have the power to oversee the police department, Coderre said.

The comments comeas the mayor faces mounting pressure to remove Pichet from his post.

• 5 things to know about PhilippePichet

Coderre hand-picked him to run the department last year.

Province could 'not be more concerned'

Quebec Public Security Minister MartinCoiteuxissued a statement Saturday evening callingon the City of Montreal and itspolice department to take action, sayinghe "could not be more concerned."

"The authorities of the Montreal police department and the City of Montreal have to displaythe utmost transparency in this case and take actions to restore the confidence ofMontrealersin their institutions," he said.

Both Projet Montral, the Opposition at city hall, and the Parti Qubcois, the Opposition in Quebec City,repeated theircallsfor Pichet to be suspended while an investigation into the matter is conducted.

ProjetMontral Coun. Alex Norris said Coderre's response has been inadequate and his "tooth and nail" defence ofPichet misguided.

'Oral communications' sought

LaPressereported Saturday thatMontreal police sought, and obtained, a warrant that allowed themto listen to the"private conversations" of two journalists PatrickLagacand VincentLarouche with police officers who were under investigation.

A copy of a warrant request obtained by Radio-Canada shows the Montreal police wanted access to the"oral communications and telecommunications" of Lagac and Larouche.

Earlier this week, La Presserevealed thatLagachad been the target of 24 warrants that allowed Montreal police to track incoming and outgoing calls to his phone. Those warrants were limited to metadata about the calls, including phone numbers and GPS locations, butdid not cover their content.

Pichetacknowledged in a statement Saturday that two police officers were under electronic surveillance and conversations between the officers and the La Presse journalists might have been heard as a result.

He said the journalists themselves were not the target of surveillance operations andclaimedthe warrant included measures to ensure the tap conformed to Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence for protecting journalists' sources.

• Surveillance a 'serious attack on freedom of the press in Canada'

The Quebec government announced last Thursday it will hold a commission of inquiryinto police surveillance of journalists.

The announcementcame after Quebec provincial police admitted this week they had spied on six journalists, including three Radio-Canada reporters,in 2013.