As the year winds down, the outgoing chief of Canada’s largest municipal police force reflects on his 10-year term that saw several major events unfold on the international stage. Toronto police Chief Bill Blair sat down with CP24’s Stephanie Smyth to talk about the job that he loves so much that he would do it “forever” if not for “political decisions.”

The Toronto Police Services Board voted against renewing Blair’s contract for a third term earlier this fall. His last day on the job will be in April 2015.

Here are some highlights from the interview that included the chief’s thoughts on the G20 protests, the investigation into former mayor Rob Ford’s crack cocaine scandal, the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Sammy Yatim on a Dundas streetcar and the threat of acts of terrorism in the city.

On the G20 debacle

“It was an extremely challenging thing for the city of Toronto,” Blair told Smyth. “We did have very large-scale rioting that took place, a great deal of damage. There was a very real and significant risk that the police had to deal with at that time. Also, under the circumstances, a very, very small period of planning and preparation for the event that I think impacted on the outcomes.”

Blair acknowledged that mistakes were made, but that recommendations from a post-G20 review were incorporated into the force’s training practices and policies and procedures.

On the investigation into Rob Ford’s drug use

Blair was tight-lipped on this topic saying only that he had removed himself from the investigation and that it is up to the detectives involved to provide updates when they have information.

“As you know, I took myself out of that investigation,” Blair said. “I left it in the hands of the investigators. I’m sure if and when they have any additional information to bring forward, they’ll do that.”

Blair also said he has not reached out to the former mayor and current Ward 2 councillor since Ford was diagnosed with cancer.

“I haven’t had any cause to,” he said.

On the Sammy Yatim streetcar shooting

Blair said he has worked hard to reach out to community members who needed answers in the wake of the shooting, and made efforts to undertake a public and transparent review.

“We reached out to the family and to their legal counsel but also to the community, to mental health advocates… Yes, there were concerns in the community and even demonstrations, but we worked hard to make sure that people who were concerned got the answers that they needed and that we responded in an appropriate way.”

On the increasing threat of radicalization and extremist acts

Blair said that the Toronto Police Service has made “enormous” efforts since 9/11 to work with all communities in the city and across the country to prevent terrorist acts

“But they can occur,” he said. “We have to be vigilant and working with all of our communities, pay attention when we get any information from any place about individuals who are drifting into that area of heavy radicalization and even to the point of extremism. What we are finding is that there is quite often evidence of people who have been making comments on social media or acting out in a certain way. What we often find in these cases is that a teacher, a family member, a friend or relative, someone had some knowledge of these individuals and may have been reluctant to come forward.”

On not having his contract renewed

The chief noted that his job is one of “extraordinary privilege,” but that the responsibility of acting in the public’s interest can get mired in politics.

“I love this job. I’d do it forever, quite frankly I would. But every police chief knows that ultimately, the renewal of the contract is a political decision. Quite frankly, I’m rarely surprised by political decisions,” Blair said.

“I can’t and won’t be distracted by political concerns in doing what is necessary,” he added. “What’s necessary is uphold the public interest which is public safety and if that means, you’re going to find yourself in a position of not being renewed, then, so be it.”