A highly-ranked police officer in Toronto who is facing a seven-count charge under the Police Services Act has appeared before the Toronto Police Tribunal.
The charges faced by the officer include breach of confidence, insubordination and discreditable conduct, following her alleged leaking of answers to officers seeking promotion from constable to sergeant.
Superintendent Stacy Clarke, who was in charge of 42 division when the alleged misconduct was perpetrated, sat quietly when she appeared in front of the police tribunal through Zoom.
According to the allegations issued immediately after the hearing ended, Clarke acted as a mentor to interview candidates throughout the fall of 2021, while a member of the promotional interview panels.
The allegations read that Clarke got an email in mid-November directing her to stop all contact with applicants she was mentoring by November 25, 2021.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that she later “transmitted photos of the interview questions for the promotional process to candidates Constable R.B., Constable P.G., and Constable J.W. You contacted the three (3) individuals you were mentoring and provided them with confidential information to advance their position in the process. In so doing, you have committed misconduct in that you did divulge any matter which it is your duty to keep secret.”
Clarke was further charged with transmitting images of interview questions to 3 other constables around November 30, 2021, and “despite the direction to cease contact with mentees, you met with and mentored Constable H.H. at your residence for three (3) consecutive days on or about December 3, 4 and 5, 2021.”
The fourth allegation of misconduct borders on being a member of H.H.’s interview panel.
The notice of hearing read: “You failed to make known the nature of your relationship you have with him and the conflict of interest associated with your participation in his interview panel. In so doing you have committed misconduct in that you did act in a disorderly manner or in a manner prejudicial to discipline or likely to bring discredit upon the reputation of the Toronto Police Service.”
The allegations further read: “You had already sat on interview panels on Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 3. On Dec. 5, while mentoring H.H. at your personal residence, you posed questions known to be taken from previous interview panels which you sat on as an interviewer. You conducted a mock interview with H.H., using real interview questions which you knew to be part of the promotional interview package.”
The legal counsel of the Toronto Police Service, Alexandra Ciobataru revealed that the service needs time to get an external prosecutor and asked to have the hearing stalled.
The matter was adjourned till February 23rd.
Clarke, a 23-year-old Toronto Police Service officer, was honoured last year as the first black woman to gain promotion to the rank of superintendent by the Toronto Police Service.
She is under suspension with pay.
