Toronto's first black female Police Superintendent demoted for helping black officers cheat on Sergeant's exam

TORONTO, CANADA - Stacy Clarke, the first black woman to hold the role of Police Superintendent in Toronto, Ontario, has been demoted from her post after she publicly confessed to aiding many of her black subordinates in a cheating scheme to get them promoted. A Wednesday tribunal found the now-ex-superintendent guilty of "extremely serious" misconduct.

As reported by the Toronto Star, the tribunal found that Clarke leaked confidential exam questions to six black officers under her command and in so doing "played the lead role in perverting their moral compasses." The panel referred to her as the "maestro" of a complex cheating scheme aimed at promoting more black officers in the department, constituting "extremely serious" misconduct, and slamming the brakes on Clarke's career.

Discussing the decision released Wednesday, tribunal adjudicator Robin McElary-Downer told the outlet, "There is no room in policing for noble cause corruption,” while announcing that Clarke would be stripped of her rank, and oddly conflating the unethical, openly racist act as "noble."

He added, "Honesty and integrity are non-negotiable character traits of a police officer. Superintendent Clarke’s actions demonstrated both were absent." Officials with the department said that Clarke is to be reduced in rank to inspector and must hold that rank for at least two years before being considered again for promotion.

During the proceedings, Clarke pleaded guilty to seven counts of professional misconduct, including confessing to taking pictures of the confidential interview questions and texting them to six black candidates competing for promotion to Sergeant in 2021. At her sentencing hearing in May, Clarke claimed that she helped the officers cheat, citing a need to counteract racial discrimination in the promotion process.

She wrote in a police report detailing the scandal, "I felt at the time that (the six officers) did not have a fair chance in this process and my own history and experience of racial inequity compounded this feeling."

She referred to her own act of racial discrimination and preferential treatment of black officers as "a desperate effort to level the playing field," despite it placing officers of other racial backgrounds at a decisive disadvantage.

Clarke defended her actions further by claiming that senior officers helping their preferred candidates cheat the promotion exam was an open secret within the department, though acknowledging this was no excuse.

The ruling from the tribunal, weighing in at a massive 71 pages, featured McElary-Downer describing the seemingly straightforward case of openly racist bias against white, Asian, and Hispanic officers as "complex and challenging." She claimed that it concerned the "thorny issue" of alleged racism against black officers and the "purportedly unfair promotional process for black officers.”

However, she stressed that it wasn't in her purview to explore the allegations of racism in the promotional process. “Rather, I am here because a very senior ranking officer of the Toronto Police Service, admittedly lead six very junior ranking officers into a scheme of cheating,” she explained.

The Star reported that all six officers who accepted Clarke's assistance face disciplinary action, five of them with unit-level discipline and thousands of dollars in salary penalties. The sixth was also demoted for professional misconduct alongside Clarke. The hearing officer noted, "As a mentor, as a senior ranking officer, it was her duty, her moral and ethical obligation to lead by example and demonstrate honesty and integrity above reproach. Rather, she led by modeling corrupt behaviour and unfortunately, they followed."

Toronto Star reporter Wendy Gillis shared footage to X of Clarke leaving Police Headquarters following the announcement and expressing disappointment with the decision. 
 

Stacy Clarke just now, leaving Toronto police headquarters, saying she is disappointed with the two-year demotion and requirement that she reapply for the rank of superintendent. Says she’s taking some time to consider next steps. No official word yet on appeal. pic.twitter.com/ezbQQZ5LE4

— Wendy Gillis (@wendygillis) August 28, 2024

“Just very disappointed and very sad about it,” Clarke told reporters. “There’s a lot of people who have shared these types of experiences. But I’m looking forward to moving forward. There’s a lot of work still to be done.” She added that she is considering her next steps. Clarke reportedly has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission.

While Clarke's supporters strongly condemned the decision, many commenters on X held that Clarke should have been suspended from the force pending termination of her employment.

Instead, McElary-Downer praised Clarke's "courage, accountability, and responsibility," telling reporters, "I have no doubt she is deeply remorseful. While Superintendent Clarke’s actions failed to model the core values of the TPS, she has modeled courage, accountability, and responsibility, in her actions post misconduct."