The Toronto Police Association is ramping up its work-to-rule campaign -- and targeting Mayor David Miller -- after talks for a new contract fell apart again.

Cops got some powerful support last night when Leafs tough guy Tie Domi donned several items of Toronto Police clothing, including a ball cap, scarf -- and tie.

"They are my guys. The heck with Miller," said Domi who has had his own battles with City Hall over the MFP computer scandal.

Darcy Tucker, as well as former Leaf Gary Roberts, also backed up the cops by wearing Police Association ball caps last night.

Tie Domi shows his support for Toronto Police and their job action with the city at the ACC last night. (JOE WARMINGTON, Sun)

Talks broke off at 2:30 a.m. yesterday after a marathon session on Sunday with a mediator, said Alok Mukherjee, chairman of the Toronto Police Services Board.

"The gaps between the two sides are so narrow we can work hard and settle this matter," Mukherjee said.

Starting today, police officers will be wearing Police Association tuques instead of their police hats and will also wear dickey turtlenecks under their uniform.

Officers also will be cashing out their time-owing banks, tapping the city for hundreds of thousands of dollars in unexpected costs.

"Most officers save the city money by taking time off, but now they will exercise their option to take cash as they are entitled to twice a year," a police source said.

Officers will also be discouraged from accepting off-duty jobs, such as security for movie sets, and from working overtime.

Mukherjee said there is agreement on wages and benefits, but that there has to be more flexibility on shift scheduling.

Association president Dave Wilson didn't return calls from the Sun.

"The board has been inflexible in its demands for unreasonable concessions, and the talks failed for that reason," he said in a statement.

"We now demand that the mayor, who is a member of the Police Services Board, intervene personally to resolve this dispute."

'WHERE DO YOU STAND?'

In a full-page ad in yesterday's Sun, the union set its focus on the mayor, asking: "Are you going to be remembered as the mayor who was tough on crime, or the mayor who was tough on cops?

"Where do you stand, Mr. Mayor?"

Miller said he's taking the same position he took with the TTC and CUPE -- encouraging the sides to talk.

FLEXIBILITY SOUGHT

"The police board is trying to ... pay them fairly but they're asking for the ability to run their operation more effectively and efficiently," Miller said.

Mukherjee said that if the union doesn't want to talk, it's time for arbitration.

And police board vice-chairman Pam McConnell also urged the union go to arbitration now rather than write poison pen letters to the mayor.

"They want to spirit a fight with the mayor to show who is more powerful," she said. "They want to grandstand on this and make it an issue for the next election."

In negotiations this weekend, the board said it would drop the retention pay change -- a $3.9-million concession -- if the union co-operated on shift assignments.

The union's counter-offer had some concessions, but asked for richer raises and more benefits.

The board responded negatively and the union walked away from the table.