Police force's first ever black female superintendent is demoted over cheating scheme to help fellow minority cops get promoted

The Toronto Police Service's first black female superintendent has been hit with a two-year demotion following a scandal that saw her help other black members of the force cheat a promotional process.

Officer Stacy Clarke, a 26-year veteran of the police service, received the penalty at a police tribunal hearing in downtown Toronto Wednesday.

She will now serve as an inspector, down one rank from her old position, officials said. She will also be required to reapply to the rank of superintendent after 24 months, after pleading guilty to professional misconduct last year. 

Outside the agency's headquarters, Clarke said she planned to take time with her 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son to process the decision.

She ascended to the post in 2020, following stints in the agency's homicide and divisional policing units. She was the focus of an investigation after giving out confidential information to six black constables before their promotional interviews.

Officer Stacy Clarke, a 22-year veteran of the police service, received the penalty at a police tribunal hearing in downtown Toronto Wednesday. She is seen leaving the Toronto Police Headquarters here

She will now serve as an inspector, down one rank from her old position, officials said. She will be required to reapply to the rank of superintendent after 24 months, after pleading guilty to misconduct last year. Clarke became the first black woman to ascend to the post back in 2020

'It is what it is,' the newly minted inspector told reporters outside the police headquarters after pleading guilty in September. 'I'm just very disappointed, I'm very sad about it.'

She added how she regrets leaking interview questions and answers to the six black officers she'd mentored for the 2021 promotions. 

This comes after a hearing this spring where she insisted she acted out of desperation to counteract what she called 'anti-black systemic racism', requesting leniency. 

The local black community, meanwhile, made it clear they were watching the case as well.

'The community will be extremely disappointed and offended if Superintendent Stacy Clarke receives a disproportionate discipline for her actions,' wrote one observer who attended the May hearing virtually.

'It will definitely be seen as a direct result of systemic racism which is deeply entrenched in policing. And it will unequivocally impact the relationship between the police and the Canadian Black community,' they said.

Disciplinary hearing officer Robin McElary-Downer, at the time, told the veteran officer 'I apologize in advance Supt. Clarke,' she said. 'I know this weighs heavy on you.' 

On Wednesday, while handing down the decision from a tribunal, McElary-Downer branded the stripped superintendent's actions a 'cheating scheme', while laying out some of transgressions.

'It is what it is,' the newly minted inspector told reporters outside the police headquarters after asking for leniency in May due to claims she was trying to circumvent 'systemic racism' present in the department. 'I'm just very disappointed, I'm very sad about it'

This included photographing interview questions and answers and sending them to the six mentees, who were not named.

Clarke also told one of the officers to delete photos and conducted mock interviews to coach them, McElary-Downer said.  

'It's clear rank brings a higher expectation of flawless behavior,' the Ontario police staffer said.

'The nature of Supt. Clarke's misconduct undoubtedly shook the confidence and trust the public had in her, and on a broader scale, the Toronto Police Service.'

Of how she came to the decision, she said:  'I found there is sufficient and tangible evidence in front of me that finds [Clarke's] actions amply illustrated abuse of position and abuse of power. 

'This makes her an unsuitable candidate to be automatically reinstated to the rank of superintendent,' she said.

'Supt. Clarke will need to reapply down the road.'

'When she does, I'm truly hopeful she will demonstrate her readiness to serve at the rank of superintendent.'

While an appeal has yet to be ruled out, the decision puts a cap on scandal that halted Clarke's meteoric rise within the department over the past two decades

While an appeal has yet to be ruled out, the decision puts a cap on scandal that halted Clarke's meteoric rise within the department, after initially working in its community response unit, youth bureau, and intelligence unit in the early 2000s.   

She went on to work the force's homicide and divisional policing support units for several years, before transferring to the Toronto Police College in 2008.

Clarke was subsequently promoted assigned to TPS's 13 Division with the rank of sergeant in 2010,  and transferred to 22 Division two years later.

There, she worked in the primary response unit and detective office, before receiving a promotion to staff sergeant in 2016 and heading the learning development and standards section at the Police College.

At the time, she also worked on the Police and Community Review (PACER) project, which explored how the TPS could bolster its image and raise the public's trust and safety.

In 2018, she reached the senior rank of inspector - a post she will now hold again for the next two years.

In 2018, she reached the senior rank of inspector - a post she will now hold again for the next two years

After that, it's not guaranteed she will assume her old position again, officials said - citing actions that brought 'unwanted publicity' and caused 'irreparable damage' to Toronto Police.

Clarke's defense had previously argued that Clarke should be demoted to the rank of inspector for a year to 18 months before being reinstated automatically - a desire that failed to come to fruition.

She will have the option to appeal the decision in coming days, officials confirmed.