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Mark Saunders (police officer)

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Mark Saunders
OOM
Saunders in 2015
Chief of the Toronto Police Service
In office
April 26, 2015 – July 31, 2020
Preceded byBill Blair
Succeeded byJames Ramer (interim)
Personal details
Born1962 (age 61–62)
London, England
Citizenship
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseStacey Saunders
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma materUniversity of Guelph-Humber
OccupationPolice officer
Websitewww.marksaundersfortoronto.ca

Mark Saunders OOM (born 1962) is a Canadian politician and retired police officer who served as chief of police with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) from 2015 to 2020.

Saunders was the Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate in Don Valley West in the 2022 Ontario election where he finished second behind Liberal candidate Stephanie Bowman. Saunders was a candidate for mayor of Toronto in the 2023 by-election, where he came in third, to winner Olivia Chow and runner-up Ana Bailão. Saunders' candidacy was described as a "law and order" campaign.[1]

Early life and education

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In 1962, Saunders was born in England to Jamaican parents.[2] His family moved from England to Quebec in 1967,[3] and in 1969, they settled in Milton, Ontario. He was student council president while attending Milton District High School, and also attended W. I. Dick Middle School, J.M. Denyes School, and Martin Street Middle School.[4] He earned an honours bachelor of applied science in justice studies from the University of Guelph-Humber shortly after his appointment as Toronto Chief of Police.[5]

Toronto Police Service

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Saunders began his policing career after graduating from high school. Before being appointed chief in 2015, he held the position of deputy chief in charge of specialized operations command. He has had assignments with professional standards, urban street gang unit, intelligence division, drug squad, community safety command, and emergency task force, and served as the unit commander of the homicide squad.[5][6]

Chief of police

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Saunders was selected by the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) on April 17, 2015, to succeed Bill Blair as the chief of police.[7] Saunders is the first Black Canadian to lead the Toronto police and the second Black Canadian to lead a police force in Canada (having been preceded by Devon Clunis of the Winnipeg Police Service in 2012).[7] He was selected over Peter Sloly, another black deputy chief who was at that time considered more open to progressive reforms.

In August 2019, the Toronto Police Services Board extended Saunders' five year contract by one year, until April 2021.[8] However, on June 8, 2020, Saunders announced his retirement effective July 31, 2020.

Vote of no confidence

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In February 2018, the Toronto Police Association (TPA), the labour organization which represents 5,400 police officers and other TPS employees held a non-binding vote of non-confidence among its membership on Saunders' leadership as chief, with 48.1 per cent of its membership participating.[9] A modernization initiative spearheaded by Saunders, resulted in a reduction of front-line officers, which the TPA says risked officer safety and harmed morale.[10] The association cited "ineffective leadership, lack of communication skills and failure to take responsibility" as reasons for holding the vote. 86 per cent of respondents indicated that they did not have confidence in Saunders' leadership.[10]

Following the vote, TPA president Mike McCormack said that the vote was not meant to result in Saunders' dismissal as chief, but should be seen as a "call to action".[10] At a police board meeting, Saunders stated "I think that we’re all moving in the right direction, are there some communication breakdowns and misunderstandings that need to be identified, absolutely and that’s what we’re going to do."[10] The TPSB chair indicated that the board continued to support Saunders, as did Mayor John Tory.[11][12]

Toronto van attack

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The Toronto van attack was a vehicle-ramming attack that occurred on April 23, 2018, when a rented van was driven along Yonge Street through the North York City Centre business district in Toronto, Ontario. The driver targeted pedestrians, killing 10 and injuring 16, some critically.[13] The incident is the deadliest vehicle-ramming attack in Canadian history.[14]

Danforth shooting

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The 2018 Toronto shooting, known locally as the Danforth shooting, was a mass shooting that occurred on Danforth Avenue in the Greektown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, on the night of July 22 which killed two people and wounded thirteen. The shooter died by suicide after a shootout with TPS officers.

2010–2017 Toronto serial homicides

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Main article: 2010–2017 Toronto serial homicides

Between 2010 and 2017, a series of men disappeared in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the early part of the decade, Toronto police had created Project Houston, a divisional task force which linked the disappearance of three men of South Asian or Middle Eastern origin to Church and Wellesley, Toronto's gay village. The investigation was unable to determine if the disappearances were related or if a crime had been committed. In mid-2017, amid public speculation of a serial killer in Church and Wellesley, evidence was gained from another missing-persons investigation which led TPS to create a second divisional task force, Project Prism. In December 2017, Saunders held a press conference, at which he stated, “We follow the evidence, and the evidence tells us that's not the case right now. The evidence today tells us there's not a serial killer.”[15] In January 2018, Project Prism investigators obtained evidence connecting two disappearances to Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old self-employed landscaper, whom they arrested on January 18, 2018. In February 2018, Saunders blamed the community for not doing enough to help.[16]

Resignation

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Saunders announced his resignation on June 8, 2020,[17][18] after serving 37 years with TPS.[6] July 31, 2020 was his final day as chief – 8 months prior to the expiry of Saunders' contract.[6] Saunders said he made the decision to leave sooner in order to "put family first".[19]

Post-policing career

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In December 2020, Saunders joined the COVID-19 vaccine task-force for Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario.[20] He was named the province's special advisor for the Ontario Place redevelopment project. [21] His term lasted from February 2021 to June 2022 and included $170,000 in compensation. In October 2023, a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act request made by NDP MPP Chris Glover, was unable to locate any records of advice, reports, or other work originating from Saunders. [22] As of August 2024, Saunders serves as a Director of Community Outreach for a Toronto-based real estate development firm, Spotlight Developments Inc. [23]


2022 provincial election

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Saunders unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Ontario general election as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the riding of Don Valley West, previously held by former premier Kathleen Wynne since 2003, who was not seeking re-election.[24][3] He was defeated by the Liberal candidate, accountant Stephanie Bowman.

2023 mayoral by-election

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On March 20, 2023, Saunders announced that he would contest the 2023 Toronto mayoral by-election.[25] In a Toronto Star column, Saunders identified community safety as a focus of his campaign, writing that he would focus on the root causes of crime.[26] He identified 24-hour access to mental health care as an area he would focus on.[25]


Personal life

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Saunders has four children with his wife Stacey; they live in North York.[27]

In October 2017, Saunders had a kidney transplant surgery with his wife as the donor. Saunders was born with only one kidney and underwent nightly kidney dialysis at home for 15 months prior to the surgery. He stated that the family went public about the transplant in order to raise awareness of the organ donation program.[28][29]

Mark's sister Yvonne Saunders is a noted former track and field athlete who competed for Canada at the 1976 Summer Olympics.

Honours

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Ribbon Bars
Ribbons Order of Merit of the Police Forces
Officer[30] 		Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Canadian version of the medal[31] 		Police Exemplary Service Medal
With One Bar[32]

Electoral record

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2023 Toronto mayoral by-election
Candidate Votes %
Olivia Chow 268,676 37.17
Ana Bailão 234,647 32.46
Mark Saunders 62,017 8.58
Anthony Furey 35,839 4.96
Josh Matlow 35,516 4.91
Mitzie Hunter 21,170 2.93
Chloe Brown 18,763 2.60
95 other candidates 46,249 6.39
2022 Ontario general election: Don Valley West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Stephanie Bowman 16,177 44.01 +5.12
Progressive Conservative Mark Saunders 14,208 38.65 +0.16
New Democratic Irwin Elman 3,392 9.23 -9.60
Green Sheena Sharp 2,025 5.51 +2.74
New Blue Laurel Hobbs 421 1.15 N/A
Libertarian John Kittredge 225 0.45 +0.45
Ontario Party Kylie Mc Allister 167 0.45 N/A
Independent John Kladitis 85 0.23 N/A
Consensus Ontario Paul Reddick 60 0.16 N/A
Total valid votes 36,760 99.41
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 218 0.59
Turnout 43.10 -18.33
Eligible voters 75,205
Liberal hold Swing +2.48
Source: Elections Ontario[33]

References

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  1. ^ Egulu, Emmy (May 18, 2023). "Opinion | Mark Saunders's troubling legacy and mayoral ambitions". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. ^ Powell, Betsy; Pagliaro, Jennifer (March 27, 2015). "Two deputies in spotlight in search for a diverse police chief". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Rushowy, Kristin (March 22, 2022). "Former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders to run for Progressive Conservatives". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. ^ Slack, Julie (April 21, 2015). "New Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders a former Milton resident". Inside Halton. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Command Officers' biographies: Mark Saunders, Chief of Police". Toronto Police Service. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders stepping down". CBC News. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Royson James (April 19, 2015). "Mark Saunders named Toronto's next police chief". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  8. ^ Herhalt, Chris (August 27, 2019). "TPS Chief Mark Saunders' term extended by one year to 2021". cp24.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Gillis, Wendy (February 15, 2018). "Toronto police union says it's holding a 'non-confidence vote' on Chief Mark Saunders". The Toronto Star. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d Fox, Chris (February 22, 2018). "Majority of police union members who responded to poll vote 'no confidence' in Saunders". CP24. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Connor, Kevin. "Toronto Police union votes 'no confidence' in Chief Saunders". Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Gillis, Wendy (February 22, 2018). "'Vote' staged by police union finds 86 per cent of those voting don't have confidence in Chief Saunders". The Toronto Star. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Toronto van attack: How you can help and what we know so far". The Globe and Mail. April 27, 2018.
  14. ^ Austen, Ian; Stack, Liam (April 23, 2018). "Toronto van Driver Kills at Least 10 People in 'Pure Carnage'". The New York Times.
  15. ^ Doherty, Brennan; Bykova, Alina (December 8, 2017). "Toronto police to review handling of missing persons cases". Toronto Star. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018.
  16. ^ Ha, Tu Thanh (February 27, 2018). "Toronto police chief says civilians failed to help investigation into alleged serial killer". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018.
  17. ^ Westoll, Nick (June 8, 2020). "Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders resigning at the end of July". Global News. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders announces his departure from TPS, effective July 31, 2020". torontopolice.on.ca (Press release). Corporate Communications for the Office of the Chief. June 8, 2020. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020.
  19. ^ Freeman, Joshua (June 8, 2020). "Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders stepping down next month with a pension of $280,000 a year". CP24. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  20. ^ "Ex-Toronto police chief Mark Saunders on COVID-19 vaccine task force". December 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  22. ^ Yazdani, Tina; Bond, Meredith (October 5, 2023). "FOI request finds no proof of work from Mark Saunders as Ontario Place special advisor". CityNews. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  23. ^ "Spotlight Developments: Team". August 7, 2024.
  24. ^ "Former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders to run for Ontario PCs in June election - CBC News". CBC. March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  25. ^ a b Hasham, Alyshah (March 20, 2023). "Former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders will run to become the city's next mayor". The Toronto Star. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  26. ^ Saunders, Mark (March 21, 2023). "Opinion | Mark Saunders: Community safety must be city's priority". The Toronto Star. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  27. ^ "About Mark Saunders | Mark Saunders for Toronto". marksaundersfortoronto.ca. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  28. ^ Katawazi, Miriam (October 6, 2017). "Mark Saunders thanks public for support after kidney transplant". Toronto Star.
  29. ^ Wilson, Codi (October 2, 2017). "Toronto police chief to undergo kidney transplant on Monday". CP24.
  30. ^ "Mark Saunders' Order of Merit of the Police Forces Citation". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  31. ^ "Mark Saunders' Diamond Jubilee Medal Citation". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  32. ^ "Mark Saunders' Police Exemplary Service Medal Citation". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  33. ^ "Candidates in: Don Valley West (022)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
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