Toronto Police Chief Urges ‘Meaningful’ Reform Amid Calls to Defund Police

Toronto Police Chief Urges ‘Meaningful’ Reform Amid Calls to Defund Police
Toronto's Chief of Police, Mark Saunders speaks during a press conference in Toronto on March 6, 2020. Cole Burston/The Canadian Press
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Toronto’s police chief says he does not support “arbitrary cuts” to the force’s budget, but does support overhauling how the force deals with those in crisis, in the wake of calls by protesters to defund the police. 
Chief Mark Saunders cautions that there is currently no alternative system in place for handling mental health-related calls and says there must be a new plan in place before any reforms take effect.