Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders wants to have the “best police force in the world” so he’s engaging the public on social media to help make it happen.
On Wednesday, Saunders hosted a live Q&A on Twitter from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and responded to 16 questions from Torontonians via video. Residents asked about police de-escalation training, officers carrying naloxone kits and community engagement.
They submitted questions by using the hashtag #AskChiefSaunders and tweeting @MarkSaundersTPS. This was the first time a Canadian police chief teamed up with Twitter Canada for a live Q&A session.
Chief Saunders thanked the public and encouraged them to continue sharing their thoughts moving forward.
Thank you to everyone for your questions during my Twitter Q & A. Be sure to visit https://t.co/SKohAx9WWc pic.twitter.com/JOCnrQLBy1
— Mark Saunders (@marksaunderstps) October 12, 2016
Parade prep
The chief also seemed optimistic on the upcoming NHL season. When asked how the police would handle crowds during a Maple Leafs playoff run.
“We will be ready for the Stanley Cup this year,” he said. “And when the Leafs win the Cup, I’ll guarantee you that we will train each and every officer for this brand new experience of having a ticker-tape parade for our Maple Leafs.”
