Toronto’s police chief says he’s stepping down as head of the force.
Mark Saunders says his resignation from the top job will take effect July 31.
He has held the position since 2015, and was set to remain in the post until at least 2021.
In an afternoon news conference, Saunders said he looks forward to spending more time with his family before moving on to a new role.
He’s been with the Toronto Police Service for 37 years.
He underwent a kidney transplant in 2017, but says his health was not a factor in his decision.
*******************************************************************************
Police chief Mark Saunders is resigning from the Toronto Police Service as of July 31, eight months before his contract was set to expire.
At a Monday news conference, Saunders said he came to the decision “not with a heavy heart” but at the right time for him and his family, noting he hadn’t had an August off in 37 years with Toronto police. During that time, Saunders noted, he always lived in the city and “never switched jerseys.”
Calling Toronto police “the greatest law enforcement agency in the world,” Saunders said he told Mayor John Tory and the Toronto police board of his intention to resign early last week.
“We haven’t been perfect but we’ve always tried to move towards excellence,” Saunders said of his term as Toronto 10th police chief, saying he was looking forward to being a full-time dad and husband.
“Family is the most important thing to me now,” he said Monday.
Saunders said he decided that the service was currently in “a safe spot,” enabling his early resignation.
To fellow police officers, Saunders said: “My advice is to never stop, always listen and serve with compassion,” and to recruits, he tells them the service is “looking for guardians, not warriors.”
“It’s time to say thank you Toronto,” Saunders said.
Last summer, the Toronto police board extended Saunders’ contract so that he would in his role until April 30, 2021, after his sixth year in the high-profile and closely scrutinized position.
Saunders was chosen as police chief in April 2015 and took on a force facing a ballooning $1-billion budget and waning public trust. Alongside the board, Saunders took an ambitious modernization effort aimed at cutting costs and “redefining” policing — a plan that has encountered multiple setbacks.
In a statement Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tory thanked Saunders for his “exemplary service.”
“He has been a dedicated and responsible Chief of Police who has always worked to protect the city. He cares deeply about the people of the city, all of its neighbourhoods, and about the men and women who serve with him,” Tory said, adding he knows that the Saunders is “looking forward to spending more time with his wife Stacey and their children.”
Asked what he will do next, Saunders joked he would become a politician, before saying he wanted to be a part of addressing the causes of crime, noting he has spent his career dealing with the symptoms and want to help find a cure for the disease.
“I see a lot of young Black boys being killed by Black boys,” he said.
Saunders’ early resignation will set off a search for his successor. Saunders said he will not be making any recommendations on who should replace him but said he is “so happy” with the service’s deputy chiefs.
Please share this
No comments:
Post a Comment