The former top cop for both Toronto and Ontario announced Tuesday he will once again be donning blue duds -- but this time as a candidate for the federal Conservative party.

Julian Fantino, former commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, and former chief of the Toronto Police, made the announcement Tuesday morning in Woodbridge, Ont.

Fantino, admitting the announcement was "not the best-kept secret," said he will run as a Tory in an upcoming byelection in the riding of Vaughan, north of Toronto.

"Even today after having stood and engaged and undertaken many challenges I feel very humbled to be here at this stage in my life to pursue this nomination," Fantino said.

The riding had been held by Liberal MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, who vacated the post to run for mayor of Vaughan.

The Conservatives appear to be throwing heavy firepower at the riding in an attempt to win the seat, after the well-known, longtime Liberal stepped aside.

Bevilacqua, who ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Liberal party in 2006, served the riding for 22 years.

Fantino wasted no time wading into a controversial issue that is likey to be front and centre in the next federal election.

He said he believes the controversial long gun registry, which the Conservatives are seeking to abolish, "has not deterred gun crime in this country, from my experience."

Many police chiefs have defended the gun registry as an important tool that police use every day. But Fantino said the more useful aspects of gun crime legislation are background checks, licensing reguirements, safe storage legislation and rules around purchasing ammunition.

Though Fantino's website itself wouldn't open on Tuesday morning, the URL www.julianfantino.ca led to a Conservative Party of Canada title bar, hinting at the coming announcement.

The byelection in Vaughan, which has not yet been officially announced, is widely expected to be held in December.