Toronto council is asking the police service to hit the brakes on its new grey and white scout cars, citing a growing public concern.

Council voted 26-13 on Wednesday in favour of a motion by Coun. Michael Thompson that asks the Toronto Police Services Board to retain the cars' current white, red and blue colour scheme, pending a further review, and to explain why the change was made.

"I've heard from a lot of members of the public that are concerned," Thompson said.

He says the colour scheme — grey with white lettering — makes police harder to approach and undermines the service's efforts to improve community relations.

"What I actually see in terms of the policing particularly in these cars is that we're actually approaching an American model of policing where it's becoming more militaristic," Thompson said.

"I don't know why they've been changed, I'm not sure there was a problem with the colours that they are now."

'No deep thought' behind the change

Toronto police began using the new grey scout cars in September. They were to be slowly rolled out across the fleet over the next four years.

In a CBC Metro Morning interview last month, police Chief Mark Saunders said he made the decision on his own because it involved police operations. That falls under his jurisdiction, he said, rather than the board that oversees the police service.

"Someone said do you want it to look the same or do you want it to look different? And I said 'let's make it look different," Saunders said.

The new look has been given a rough ride by some Torontonians.

"It's nice to know that your police cars are pretty visible," said Fatemah Habid.

"I would feel safer if I could identify a police car."

A more 'deliberative' process

As a result of the vote, council is also calling on the police services board to commission an independent study into whether a new colour scheme is needed.

Thompson says that review must also include community consultations.

"I don't believe it is the decision of the chief of police alone to decide on the police cars in the city of Toronto, where those cars actually belong to the residents of Toronto," he said.