Don't be bullied by Common Council.........That message was delivered to the Police Commission by the Saint John Police Association which is responding to the request for a hiring freeze until the 2012 city budget is finalised.
The Police Association's Bob Davidson says Common Council is exceeding its authority under the law unless it wants to disband the Police Commission.
He argues the only authority Council has under the Police Act and the Municipalities Act is to either approve or reject the police department's budget but cannot interfere in its day to day operations.
Davidson also told the Police Commission there are lots of police officers now talking about retiring.
There has been no public response from the Police Commission whose Chair Chris Waldshutz told Davidson he didn't want this to turn into a media circus.
