After more than 37 years with Toronto Police, the city’s first Black chief is resigning the end of July.
Mark Saunders will leave nine months before his contract was to expire April 30, 2021.
While he did not give a specific reason for his departure, Saunders says his ”health is fine.”
He had a kidney transplant in 2017 but says there are things he wants to do for the city ”for free.”
”I’m certainly going to work, because I don’t think my wife will want me in the house,” says Saunders, adding he’s looking forward to being a full-time dad and husband.
”Family is the most important thing to me right now.”
”Thank you, Toronto, for working with me during my tenure. It is something I’ll cherish forever.”
When the police services board announced last summer it had decided to renew Saunders’ contract, it was just the second time in the last 40 years that a police chief would serve more than a single term.