Mark Saunders named Toronto’s new police chief
Posted April 19, 2015 10:46 pm.
Last Updated April 20, 2015 10:45 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Deputy Chief Mark Saunders will replace Bill Blair as Toronto’s police chief.
The official announcement was made on Monday morning.
Saunders, 52, was one of three frontrunners to replace Blair, who completes his term on April 25.
Saunders, who is in his 32nd year with the force, will be Toronto’s first black police chief.
Over his career Saunders has worked with the gang, drug, and homicide units, among others.
He is currently in charge of Specialized Operations Command where he oversees 1,200 police officers and 154 civilian members.
Saunders is the co-chair of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Organized Crime Committee and, according to the Toronto police website, participates as a mentor for the Black Community Consultative Committee.
He is the police force’s executive sponsor of the Toronto Pan Am/Parapan American Games, responsible for safety and security.
Saunders created an investigative cybercrime unit and has championed the use of technology in policing.
Saunders studied justice at the University of Guelph-Humber and lives in Toronto with his family.
