Police Chief Sloly to stay in Ottawa despite Toronto police chief opening

Ottawa's Police Chief Peter Sloly says he has no intention to leave Ottawa to pursue the top police job in Toronto, despite Mark Saunders' announcement that he is stepping down as the provincial capital's police chief.
   
Sloly said in a statement that he reached out to congratulate Saunders' on his retirement but that he is committed to fulfilling his job in Ottawa. Sloly served as the Toronto Police Service's deputy chief but stepped down from the force in 2016, following twenty-seven years of duty. Sloly had applied position of police chief in Toronto back in 2015, but that job ultimately went to Saunders.

However, following the news of Saunders' departure from the Toronto Police Service on July 31, Sloly says he fully intends on staying in Ottawa.

“I made a commitment to [the] City of Ottawa, the Board and the OPS members and I will fulfill that commitment,” Sloly explains in a statement. “I purchased a home in Ottawa, moved my family here and plan to raise my children in the nation's capital.”

I applied for and accepted the role of the Ottawa Police Service Chief. I made a commitment to this City of Ottawa, the Board and the OPS members and I will fulfill that commitment.

— Chief Peter Sloly (@OPSChiefSloly) June 9, 2020

Meanwhile, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson tweeted his gratidude for Sloly's decision to remain in the capital. 

I am pleased that Chief Sloly has restated his strong commitment to the Ottawa Police Service, to our City and our residents.

Je suis heureux que le chef Sloly ait réaffirmé son engagement ferme envers le Service de police d'Ottawa, notre ville et nos résidents. https://t.co/HwQZeLXWyJ

— Jim Watson (@JimWatsonOttawa) June 9, 2020

Peter Sloly became chief of police for the Ottawa Police Service in October 2019.