Hamilton's police chief wants the city to name seven bridges after fallen police officers.

Chief Glenn De Caire is asking the city to rename bridges that cross the Lincoln Alexander Parkway. The police services board unanimously approved the idea on Friday.

"The Hamilton Police Service has strived to maintain public safety and security throughout the city, sadly at the cost of seven officers' lives," De Caire wrote in a report.

The service would pay the cost, which would be about $9,800, the chief said. That includes signs and installation. Police would pay for it out of a budget surplus from 2015. The service also had a surplus of $1.8 million in 2014.

The city will now consider the request.

The bridges would be named after the following officers:

Const. James Barron (died Oct. 27, 1903)

County Const. Albert Springstead (Nov. 29, 1919)

Const. Reginald Pryer (Sept. 11, 1921)

Const. Fredrick Raynes (Nov. 21, 1925)

Det. William Clark (June 27, 1929)

Const. David R. Gregory (Aug. 29, 1962)

Acting Sgt. John (Cam) McMurrich (Dec. 22, 1968)

The province passed an act allowing the naming of highway memorials for fallen police officers in 2002. But rather than a King's Highway, naming bridges over the Linc would be "a more fitting tribute," said De Caire's report.

Lincoln Alexander, a long-time city politician, was an honorary chief of police in Hamilton.

Also at Friday's meeting, the board approved the 2016 budget, which is a 2.79 per cent increase over last year's budget.

The budget now goes to city council, which will approve it or send it back for modifications.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC