Chief Bill Blair will not stay on as head of the Toronto Police beyond next spring, according to a statement published by the board Wednesday.
The Toronto Police Services Board has decided not to renew Blair's employment contract. He had applied for a renewal of his contract last Friday, but the board voted not to keep him on for a third term. His last day in office will be April 25, 2015.
"Chief Blair has had a long and distinguished policing career with the Toronto Police Service. He is widely viewed as a champion of community policing and a leader in law enforcement around the world," the TPSB said in a statement thanking Blair for his service.
Speaking to media from the Toronto Police headquarters, TPSB Chair Alok Mukherjee said the decision was sensitive and difficult to make.
"The board took into account a variety of factors: the needs of the city, the challenges that the organization faces at this time, the priorities that must be addressed," Mukherjee said.
"We decided that it was time, after 10 years of very distinguished service by Chief Blair, for us to appoint a new chief," he said. "It was not an easy decision, and there was a great deal of consideration given before the board reached a decision."
Wednesday's decision surprised the head of the Toronto Police Association, who described Blair's influence on the force as mostly positive.
"I think that a lot of the stuff that he did around community-based policing and bringing policing into the 21st century will be his legacy," Mike McCormack told CTV Toronto.
In the nearly 10 years that Blair has been head of the Toronto Police, he has been credited for improving relationships with the community and for making human rights a top priority for the force. But Blair's tenure at the top has not been without controversy.
Under his watch, Blair helped guide the Toronto police force through a number of turbulent times, including the G20 Summit, the shooting of Sammy Yatim aboard a TTC streetcar last summer and the so-called Rob Ford "crack video" probe
Despite those controversies, however, Mukherjee told reporters that the board's decision to not renew Blair's contract was not based on his performance.
"You're trying to get me to say if there's a particular failure on the part of the chief and my answer is no," he said. "(Our) decision was not a decision against Chief Bill Blair. It was a decision on what's the best way to go forward for this organization and this city."
Ford, who has had a rocky relationship with the police chief, also had kind words for him on Wednesday.
"I want to thank Chief Bill Blair for his service to the people of this great city for the last 10 years," Ford told reporters outside his office at city hall. "I look forward to working with the new chief in April."
In response to Wednesday's decision, Blair -- who has held the top spot at the TPS since April 2005 – released a simple statement.
"I want to thank the board their consideration."
With a report from CTV Toronto's Zuraidah Alman and Natalie Johnson
