A disciplinary hearing at a Toronto police department revealed a shocking discovery about the city’s first Black officer of the highest ranks. Now, the title she worked so hard for is in jeopardy.
In a Wednesday police meeting, Toronto Police Service Superintendent Stacy Clarke faced disciplinary action for giving confidential information to six Black employees ahead of their job promotion interviews in 2021, the CBC reports. In the meeting, disciplinary hearing officer Robin McElary-Downer alleged Clarke committed a series of violations by taking pictures of interview questions and the corresponding answers and sending them to her fellow officers. McElary-Downer said Clarke even instructed them to delete the photos and offered to conduct mock interviews with the officers.
The findings resulted in Clarke being slammed with seven counts of misconduct which she pleaded guilty to in September 2023, the report says. At the hearing, Clarke testified on her behalf, explaining she acted out of “desperation” to combat “anti-Black systemic racism.” She echoed similar remarks in a previous hearing this summer.
“A product of years of experience with systemic racism, systemic unfairness and specifically what Black members have felt... the rush of everything that occurred, in that moment, I became overborne,” said Clarke in a May hearing.
The hearing officer noted Clarke was swift to take accountability after getting found out, per the report. On a brighter note, the hearing officer also said this incident doesn’t negate the fact she was a wonderful employee.
“Outside of this incident, Supt. Clarke has led an admirable career,” McElary-Downer said per the report. “Indisputably, she is held in high regard by the many people she has worked with. Her history reflects she is a rockstar.”
Despite the compliments, Clarke was still handed a demotion to the rank of inspector for 24 months. The demotion comes four years after she was promoted to superintendent. Her promotion in July 2020 marked the first time a Black woman reached that rank in the Toronto police force. She first joined the service as a cadet in 1998, the report says.
Clarke told reporters outside the hearing she isn’t giving up on appealing the penalty. However, she said plans on continuing to move forward.