Chief Mark Saunders talks defunding the police, taking a knee amid protests on Metro Morning

Chief Mark Saunders said Toronto's not in a position to defund its police force during an interview with CBC Radio's Metro Morning.

Many demonstrators have called for thatin recent weeks, while two city councillors are already pushing a motion to cut 10 per cent of the service's budget.

"If you're going to take certain things away from us, you have to build the right response first," Saunders said on Thursday morning.

The chief, who this week announced plans to retire at the end of July, spoke about a number of other issues as well, including how he talks to his own children about what to do if they're stopped bypolice and his move to take a knee during protests against anti-Black racism.

You can listen to the full interview here:

For more on Saunders' decision to leave Toronto police, check out these links.