May 2024
Toronto Police Superintendent Stacy Clarke may have been “frustrated and desperate” at what she saw as unfairness in the police promotion process, but I don’t care. Her conduct was disgraceful and she deserves the maximum penalty of termination after pleading guilty to seven counts of misconduct.
Clarke had been charged under the Ontario Police Services act with three counts of Breach of Confidence, three counts of Discreditable Conduct and one count of Insubordination in early 2022 for helping six constables cheat on their sergeants exam.
Honesty is one of the most important character traits that a police officer must possess. While Clarke may not have personally befitted from her deceit, that’s not the point. Her dishonesty cannot be excused because she felt she had no choice but to embark on a one-woman campaign against racial discrimination.
If Clarke isn’t fired, at minimum, she should be demoted to 1st Class Constable, with no possibility for promotion for the rest of her career. Anything less will show that, once again, rank has its privilege. As a senior officer, she needs to be held accountable to an even higher standard than a constable accused of the same offence. Leaders are expected to set the example for your subordinates and she has failed in that regard. It’s not okay to commit offences of dishonesty and corruption, even if you think you are doing it for the right reasons; even if you think those reasons are morally understandable.
It should be noted that Clarke’s dishonesty and corruption wasn’t just in giving promotional candidates questions asked in the interview portion of the promotional process, but also privately conducting mock interviews for candidates and being present during the panel interviews as a member of the promotional panel.
As noted by lawyer David Butt, lawyer for Constable Horace Harvey, who was demoted from 1st Class Constable to 2nd Class after pleading guilty plea to one count of discreditable conduct for receiving “assistance” from Clarke, “People who judge my client for cheating should keep at the front of their mind that this case is fundamentally about an abuse of power by a superintendent,” Butt said.
Jon Reid, Toronto Police Association president, has said that if the charges against Clarke are proven, “it would most certainly undermine the current promotional process as it stands. These promotional processes require a significant investment of our member’s personal time, and they must have confidence in that process.”
There are currently three Toronto Police officers currently being investigated for committing perjury, another form of dishonesty, due to their testimony related to the death of Detective Constable Jeffrey Northrup. If any or all of them are charged, they should use the “Stacy Clarke” defence of being “frustrated and desperate” that the guy who killed their friend and colleague might not be punished as they saw fit. They may not escape a conviction, but their jobs will be safe.
The public rightly expects that police officers conduct themselves honestly and professionally, not go rogue and play by their own rules. There are ways to accomplish your goals, even ones that may skirt the line, without crossing over it. If you do, you deserve to be held accountable and you should be prepared to accept it. In Clarke’s case, it should be a harsh one.
Sources: Toronto police officer helped officers cheat on exam to diversify ranks, lawyer says | CTV News, Toronto cop pleads guilty in cheating scandal, blames senior officer (thestar.com), Toronto police pleads guilty to helping others cheat for promotions | CTV News.
