Marc Parent, Montreal police chief, leaving job in September

Police Chief Marc Parent will not seek another mandate when his current contract expires in September.

After 31 years as a police officer and five years as head of the force, Parent said the time had come to move on.

"It's a personal decision," he told CBC.

"I'm convinced that inside the organization we have the people to take charge, so it's a good time for me to do that."

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Parent told his officers on Thursday morning.

"I'm convinced that inside the organization we have the people to take charge, so it's a good time for me to [leave].'- Police ChiefMarc Parent

Parent, 51, was sworn in as director of the SPVM in September 2010. Montreal's former mayor, Grald Tremblay, appointed him.

He succeeded Yvan Delorme, who had resigned.

Parent presided over the Montreal force during a tumultuous period, marked by months of protests by students in the spring of 2012 and a string ofincidents, some of them fatal, involving police use of force.

Most recently, a video obtained by CBC News showing a police officerpunching a protester in the face during an anti-austerity demonstration led to renewed criticism of the policeforce.

Speaking Thursday,Parent said he believes he helped reshape the "values" of the police force during his time as chief, making it more transparent and better connected to the public.

Coderreoffers praise

Mayor Denis Coderre said Thursdayhe had full confidence in the police chief and had been poised to renew Parent's mandate for another term.

"He is someone who did an extraordinary job," Coderre said.

"However, it's normal that at the end of five years, after a long police career, a person would decide to embark on another path."

About 4,600 officers work for the Montreal police. The city's police is the second largest municipal service in Canada.

Quebec Public Security Minister Lise Thriault thanked Parent for his service.

"I want to highlight the excellent work that Mr. Parent accomplished in the last few years,"Thriaultsaid.

"Directing the police force of a city as big and important as Montreal is not an easy task. He has faced many challenges and did it with gusto.

"He handled his responsibilities very well," added Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

Parent was Montreal's 35thpolice chief.

Longtime Montreal officer

Parent formerly served as the director of the police force's northern division, which includes Montreal North, a neighbourhood known for clashes between youths and police.

The FBI Academy graduate wasconsidered by many to be close to the grassroots and an outsider to the force's top brass.

Parent studied major investigations and anti-terrorism techniques at the FBI Academy and has headed the Montreal force's tactical squad.

At the time of his appointment,Tremblaysaid Parent's solid understanding of public safety concernsand extensive experience made him a strong candidate.

He also said because of Parent's experience in the racially diverse north end of Montreal, he wasa good choiceto close the gap between Montreal's police force and visible minorities.