Deputy Chief Mark Saunders has been named the next Toronto police chief, and will become the first black police chief of Canada’s largest city.
The promotion was formally announced at a news conference on Monday morning at Toronto Police headquarters.
"I can't begin to tell you how honoured and excited I am to have this opportunity to work with you," Saunders said.
"I'm truly honoured to have been chosen."
Saunders will take over when current Chief Bill Blair ends his term later this week after spending 10 years on the job.
Saunders said he didn't realize the impact of his appointment until his 10-year-old son reminded him that he was making history.
"He said to me: 'Dad, that's history, and that's something they can never take away from you," Saunders said.
Toronto Police Services Board Chair Alok Mukherjee said the board searched for a leader who would "foster the spirit of co-operation and teamwork," and would be open to new models of policing.
"This is a big day for the City of Toronto," said Mukherjee.
He described Saunders as a good listener who is "transparent, down to earth."
Mayor John Tory said Toronto went through its most thorough search ever in the hunt for a new chief, and that the police board was unanimous in its selection of Saunders.
"We believe that Mark Saunders will be an experienced, trusted, innovative leader of our police service, who is best positioned to maintain safe communities and is attentive to their unique needs and experiences," said Tory.
Controversial carding policy
Saunders told reporters he will lay out a "full-scale road map" in the coming weeks of his goals as the next chief. He said his first priority will be looking at a controversial carding policy approved by Blair last week.
"I want to work with the board and come up with what the best solutions are so that we can do what we need to do to keep communities safe, but also to minimize the collateral damage," said Saunders.
The new policy allows officers to stop, question and collect information from people in Toronto even if they haven't broken any laws. The policy was meant to help improve ties between police and marginalized communities, but has had the opposite effect on some minority groups.
Community members from the area near Toronto Police's 12 Division, where Saunders spent time as superintendent, say he has previously supported the practice.
"He always felt that police carding was a necessity in solving crime … he was interested to hear what we have to say, however, it like he felt bound by what the police believes in," said Shadya Yasin, a spokesperson for the York Youth Coalition.
Saunders said under his watch, the city can expect a more open conversation about race and policing.
"Being black is fantastic. It doesn't give me superpowers, so if you're expecting all of a sudden that the earth will open up and miracles will happen – that's not going to happen," Saunders said.
"What will happen is there will be lots of open dialogue, more so than before," he added.
Knia Singh, the president of the Osgoode Society Against Institutional Injustice, says carding presents "legitimate" legal concerns to the community and hopes to sway the incoming police chief to scrap the policy.
"If he's really opening his doors for conversation, we're here," said Singh.
A 32-year veteran of the force, Saunders currently heads up the Specialized Operations Command, where he oversees a team of 1,364 people. He's also worked on guns and drugs squads, the Emergency Task Force unit and oversaw the city's homicide division. He also started the investigative cybercrime unit, C3.
The new chief holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in justice studies from Guelph Humber University, and has received several awards including the Black Canadians Award for Public Service and a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.
He is also the officer in charge of the 2015 Pan Am Games.
Saunders will assume his new position on April 26.
With reports from CTV Toronto's Natalie Johnson and Colin D'Mello
