Officer accused of giving interview questions to six cops up for promotion
News of internal probe has led force to suspend process of upgrading ranks
A high-ranking Toronto police officer is accused of leaking confidential information to a group of officers competing for a promotion, a process she was directly involved in, newly released police documents allege.
Supt. Stacy Clarke is accused of helping a group of constables seeking a promotion to sergeant, including sending pictures of interview questions to six officers — even after being directed to cease communication with applicants for the promotion, police allege.
Clarke, a veteran of the Toronto police, made her first appearance before the Toronto police disciplinary tribunal Monday on seven counts of professional misconduct, including breach of confidence and insubordination.
The charges under Ontario’s Police Services Act come after an internal investigation into what Toronto police called alleged “impropriety” in the recent promotional process for the rank of sergeant.
Represented by lawyer Joseph Markson, Clarke said little during the first appearance but acknowledged she’d reviewed the documents outlining the allegations against her. Markson told the Star last week that Clarke was fully cooperating with the investigation and respectful of the process.
The hearing was put off until next month to allow time for disclosure.
Released after Clarke’s tribunal appearance, the police documents detailing the allegations provide the first glimpse of the alleged wrongdoing in the promotional process. Applying for the sergeant rank is a months-long endeavour that requires candidates to pass a written exam then be questioned by a panel of senior officers.
News of an internal probe into promotional impropriety set off two weeks of speculation and complaints about unfairness in the promotional process — and prompted Toronto police to freeze promotions until the matter was investigated. In a statement to the Star Monday, Toronto Police Association president Jon Reid said the union strongly believes in due process, but said that if the charges are proven “it would most certainly undermine the current promotional process as it stands.”
“These promotional processes require a significant investment of our members’ personal time, and they must have confidence in that process,” Reid said, adding that there must be “a fair and equal application of the rules — regardless of rank.”
According to the documents, Clarke, who is the first Black female officer to become superintendent, had been acting as a mentor to candidates throughout the fall of 2021. She was also selected to be a member of the interview panels for officers seeking the promotion to sergeant. On Nov. 10, Clarke was directed in an email to cease all contact with applicants she’d been mentoring by Nov. 25, according to the police documents.
Toronto police allege Clarke continued to help a number of applicants after that date, including transmitting photos of the interview questions to six candidates, the documents allege. This provided these officers with “confidential information to advance their position in the process,” the police documents say.
Clarke is also alleged to have met with one officer, identified only as H.H., in her home on three occasions in early December.
At the time, Clarke had allegedly just sat in on other interviews for the sergeant position and “conducted a mock interview with (this officer) using real interview questions which (she) knew to be part of the promotional interview package,” the documents allege.
“You later acted as a member of H.H.’s interview panel. However, 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,” the documents state.
Toronto Police Chief James Ramer is expected to bring in a hearing officer from outside of the police force to adjudicate the case, and an external prosecutor.
Monday’s hearing before Toronto police Staff Supt. Lauren Pogue was adjourned to Feb. 23. Officers found guilty of professional misconduct face penalties ranging from a reprimand to dismissal.