Stacy Clarke, Toronto’s first Black female police superintendent, has been demoted after admitting to her role in a cheating scandal that sought to assist Black officers in gaining promotions.
A tribunal on Wednesday deemed Clarke’s actions as “extremely serious” misconduct, according to a report by the Toronto Star.
Clarke, who had broken barriers in her career, was found to have played a key role in a 2021 incident where she took photographs of confidential interview questions and shared them with six Black candidates competing for sergeant positions.
The tribunal’s adjudicator, Robin McElary-Downer, emphasized that integrity and honesty are essential traits for any police officer, qualities Clarke was found lacking in this case.
During a sentencing hearing in May, Clarke defended her actions, arguing that she was motivated by a desire to “level the playing field.”
She believed the candidates she helped were at a disadvantage and cited her own experiences with racial inequity as influencing her decision to intervene in the promotion process.
As a consequence, Clarke has been demoted to the rank of inspector for a period of two years, after which she will be eligible to reapply for her previous position.
Her defense team had requested a shorter demotion period of 12 to 18 months, with automatic reinstatement, but this was not granted.
Following the tribunal’s decision, Clarke expressed her disappointment and sadness over the outcome, while some of her supporters criticized the punishment as overly severe.
Adjudicator McElary-Downer acknowledged that, outside of this incident, Clarke has had a distinguished career and described her as a “rock star” within the Toronto Police Service.
However, she also noted that Clarke’s actions had significantly undermined the public’s confidence and trust in both her and the broader police force.
