TORONTO

Former Toronto Police deputy chief Peter Sloly has new job.

But it’s not a chief of another police services, as many were expecting.

“Excited to be joining #Deloitte as an #ExecutiveDirector. Looking forward to making an impact in this new role,” Sloly informed us on social media Thursday morning.

Deloitte said, in a press release, that it is “pleased to announce that Peter Sloly has joined the firm as an Executive Director.”

And apparently he’s been in the job since April 18.

“Peter has led transformational projects in Toronto and beyond, with an international reputation for being a change agent. He’s a proven leader and out-of-the-box thinker, so we’re excited to bring him on board,” said Ryan Brain, regional managing partner for Deloitte in Toronto. “His impressive experience will serve our clients well, particularly as they face business challenges relating to cyber security, crisis response and digital media.”

Sounds interesting. But it’s not a police chief’s job.

So is Canada’s one-time most sought after law-and-order draft pick for progressive politicians pushing to transform policing out of the game all together?

Could it mean his outspokenness has scared off potential suitors?

Sloly has yet to return calls. However several policing insiders say it’s difficult to imagine the 49-year-old, 27-year police officer will be out of uniform forever.

In fact some say the Deloitte job is more of a holding pattern while he waits for a call.

Excited to be joining #Deloitte as an #ExecutiveDirector. Looking forward to making an impact in this new role https://t.co/IyDTOdjWwG — Peter Sloly (@SlolyServes) April 28, 2016

“I know Hamilton is interested in him,” said one police governance insider. “Peel also likes him.”

Hamilton has a vacancy for chief and are in their selection process currently. Peel does not have an opening. Chief Jennifer Evans is under contract until the end of 2017.

That said, however, she has stood up to the board on the issue of street checks which has upset some members.

“These boards today are talking about progressiveness and change but what they are really saying is they want the police to work for the politicians instead of the public,” said one high ranking officer. “They want to be in charge of policing.”

But progressive policing governance experts reject that claim instead saying transformative change is needed for sustainability.

That’s why Sloly is attractive to today’s police boards looking for harmony among diverse populations as well as cost efficiencies.

Case in point, his harsh criticism of Toronto’s operation Just weeks later, he left the service after a retirement package was worked out.

“I feel there’s a crisis in the offing,” he said on a recording of a speech. “We are wasting money on infrastructure. Bricks and mortar should not be our investment strategy.”

He also said, “until policing stops being focused and driven on that reactive enforcement model, it will continue to be exponentially costly.”

Sloly advocated for investments in social media policing but said “the actual response was laughter” where he was told “that’s what pimply faced kids do in parents’ basements. Why would we be investing in that?”

But had his supporters on the Toronto Police Services Board, too, among them former chairman Alok Mukherjee, and he isn't surprised that he found work.

"Peter Sloly is an exceptionally talented individual and will shine wherever he goes. With his qualities of leadership, his innovative thinking and his passion for service, it comes as no surprise that one of the world’s leading consulting companies would snap him up," Mukherjee said Thursday morning.

And one Hamilton city councillor also heaped praise on Sloly.

Councillor Matthew Green said he expects Sloly will be a valuable asset to Deloitte.

"But the loss of deputy Sloly as a progressive leader in policing is a loss not just for the Toronto Police Service but for policing across the country as a whole," Green said. "My hope is that perhaps in the future we’ll see him back in uniform as a chief.”

Sources tell me “progressive thinking politicians” will not be able to resist trying to find a way to modernize policing and Sloly will be on all of their short lists.

The fact that he ruffles the feathers of traditional policing advocates is not a deterrent for them but a strength.

However, Sloly is off to the private sector for now.

But for how long?