New police chief promises ‘bold steps’

Toronto’s new police chief confronted the criticisms levelled at his profession as he was sworn in Wednesday, and promised “bold steps” under his term to better the force.

Mark Saunders, the first black man to lead the force, was met with a standing ovation after outlining his vision during a packed swearing-in ceremony at police headquarters.

“The challenges are higher than ever before, the stakes are higher than ever before, but so are the opportunities to take bold steps,” he said. “We have no excuses. We know what we have to do. I feel a great sense of optimism.”

Saunders, 52, was selected as Toronto’s top cop af ter an extensive international search to replace his predecessor, Bill Blair.

He has spent 32 years with the Toronto police and comes to his new job from the special operations command, where he managed 1,200 of- ficers and 164 civilians in a department that included the homicide squad, sex-crimes unit, and guns and gangs task force.

As he took on his new post, Saunders acknowledged the challenges facing the force of about 5,500 uniformed officers and 2,500 civilians.

“Policing is at a crossroads. It is under scrutiny as never before. The legitimacy and sustainability of policing are under challenge from those who believe it is both serious- ly flawed and too expensive,” he said.

Saunders takes over at a time of tension over “carding” — a police practice of stopping people on the street f or questioning . Visi bl e minorities, especially black youth, have long complained they are disproportionately targeted for the stops.

While he didn’t mention carding specifically, Saunders promised that under his command, Toronto police would work to improve their interactions with the public.

“We have to ensure that our community engagements become smarter, surgical, that they are conformed and guided by the latest and most accurate intelligence. That they are guided by the law,” the chief said.

Despite his expressions of optimism, at least some critics said Saunders needed to back up his words with actions.

“He has to stop carding ... and I don’t believe he will,” said John Sewell, coordinator of the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, who saw Saunders’s three decades of service on the same force as somewhat of a weakness.

“One can assume he’ll continue on with the culture and direction that he’s learned with the Toronto Police Service, which I don’t think is good enough.”

Ellie Adekur- Carlson, chairwoman of the Network for the Elimination of Police Violence, echoed that view. “Nothing new is coming out of Mark Saunders,” she said. “It’s very easy to make those vague sweeping promises ... but when it comes to responding to tangible solutions that are being presented, you see how he’s not really standing up to that.”

He has to stop carding ... I don’t believe he will