A Montreal police officer who fatally shot a teenager broke a series of police force protocols immediately after the event, a coroner's inquest heard Thursday.

Jean-Loup Lapointe told the inquest into the death of 18-year-old Fredy Villanueva that he was well aware of policies that prohibit officers from speaking about shootings in which they are involved.

But soon after shooting Villanueva in 2008, Lapointe spoke with his union representative while accompanied by his partner Stephanie Pilotte.

The meeting was "normal and even important," according to Lapointe.

The inquiry had heard previously that Lapointe's supervisor, Rene Bellemare, was supposed to keep him separate from his partner.

It emerged Thursday that Bellemare was also responsible for confiscating and clearing Lapointe's service handgun.

But Lapointe admitted he handed the weapon to another officer after removing the bullets himself.

"I absolutely had to secure the weapon before putting it away," he told the inquiry.

Villanueva's lawyer sought to highlight the repeated lapse in protocol.

"They did not respect many, if not most, of the directives formulated for similar events," Gunar Dube said during a break in the proceedings.

Lapointe waited one month before submitting his report of the shooting to investigators. It took his partner, Pilotte, less than a week.

The officer blamed the delay on the "extremely trying" events that followed the shooting.

Villanueva's death sparked a riot in the tough, multi-ethnic Montreal-North neighbourhood where it occurred.

Lapointe said he needed time to calm his emotions and gather his thoughts. He added that after meeting with provincial police investigators he realized he was potential suspect in a murder investigation.

He said the provincial police investigation forced him to chose his words carefully in preparing his report.

The inquiry also heard how, after returning to work several weeks after the Aug. 8 shooting, Lapointe asked for and received a new service weapon, despite the fact he was under investigation.

Lapointe said he needed the weapon because certain individuals presented a "direct threat" to his safety.

The officer has special dispensation to carry his service weapon and is followed closely by a police security detail.

Asked what he could have done to avoid the tragic outcome of that August day, Lapointe said he wouldn't have done anything differently.

"I respected every step of every directive," he said.

He added that he felt well-trained and well-equipped and was respectful and calm at the moment of the altercation that ended with the shooting.

Lapointe also said he did not remember telling an ambulance attendant at the time that he was worried about reprisals.

Two other people were injured in the incident, which began when Lapointe moved to break up an illegal dice game in a park, a violation of municipal law that warranted a fine.

Lapointe testified earlier this week that T Villanueva, Fredy's brother, became belligerent when he tried to write him a ticket

He said he felt cornered as several others advanced on him, ignoring his repeated calls to back away.

Lapointe testified he repeatedly told the group to back up and that he decided to shoot when he was being strangled and could feel someone reaching for his gun.

An independent provincial police investigation cleared the Montreal police officers and no criminal charges were ever laid in the case.

Lapointe continues his testimony on Friday.