Vote of no confidence

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

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

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

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

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]