QuickSketch of Toronto’s next police chief
Posted April 20, 2015 10:36 am.
Last Updated April 20, 2015 2:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – A profile of Mark Saunders, who will become Toronto’s first black police chief this weekend.
Age: 52
Education: Saunders has a BA in justice studies from Guelph Humber University.
Career: Saunders, the current deputy chief, has been with the force for 32 years, working in the Emergency Task Force, the intelligence division, the drug squad and the urban street gang unit. He also served as unit commander of the country’s largest homicide squad and is currently in charge of Specialized Operations Command where he oversees 1,200 police officers and 154 civilian members.
Family: Saunders is married and has four children aged between 10 and 26.
Quote: “Being black is fantastic — it doesn’t give me superpowers. So if you’re expecting that all of a sudden, the earth will open up and miracles will happen, that’s not going to happen.” — Saunders, when asked what he would do as a black police chief to help black people in the city.
