Montreal police Chief Marc Parent to step down in September

Montreal police Chief Marc Parent, 51, is stepping down  after almost five years heading the squad for what he says are personal reasons.

He told officers of the decision this morning and notified the mayor and the government before going public with his decision, he said.

“I wanted to meet with my staff, my people before telling the media. It was important to me,” he said. “I decided … to make sure I had the opportunity to tell them [to their faces] and make sure they learned the news from me.”

Parent joined the Montreal police 31 years ago and was appointed to replace predecessor Yvan Delorme as chief Aug. 19, 2010. He says he has the support of all levels of government, and will stay on as chief until September.

In his near-five years overseeing the force, Parent's squad has faced a number of challenges, including a large number of student demonstrations in 2012. Police also protested pension plan adjustments under his reign as well, culminating in a protest at city hall last August.

Interestingly, Parent said he is most proud of the force’s sometimes controversial handling of the student protests, saying that having to deal with the nightly protests taught them a lot, and that the force is now “so good” at handling demonstrations.

He is also happy with of new procedures put in place to address ethical issues, highlighted by the 2012 apparent suicide of retired Det.-Sgt. Ian Davidson, who was under investigation for trying to sell the names of police informants to the mob at the time of his death, and the sentencing of former police officer Benoit Roberge last year to eight years in prison for selling police information to bikers. The force has implemented random checks and other mechanisms to be better able to detect when someone may be disclosing sensitive information to parties who shouldn’t have it, he said.

He said threats of terrorism and increasing cybercrime are the biggest challenges the next chief will have to deal with.

Parent holds a master's degree in public administration and a B.A. in business administration, in addition to holding a diploma in major investigations and terrorism from the FBI National Academy.

He wouldn't say what would be next for him in his career, saying his main focus is his current job until September, "and after that, we'll see."