By RON FANFAIR
Retired Toronto Police Sergeant Terry James inspired Kelly Skinner to join Canada’s largest municipal police service.
“Her daughter and my younger sister were elementary school friends and that is how I got to know Terry,” said Skinner. “I often sat down with Terry and her husband Mike (Sherman) and we would have deep conversations about community and what I wanted to do after leaving high school.”
On one occasion, they asked if she had considered a career in policing.
“I was thinking about law and because I didn’t have that representation, that never crossed my mind as something I could do until I met her,” Skinner said. “She said this is exactly what I needed to do and she was right. It was the best decision I have ever made.”
Joining the Service in 1998, she is the highest-ranking Black woman officer after being promoted to Staff Superintendent in 2024.
On January 30, Skinner was the recipient of the Terry James Trailblazer Award presented at the Service’s Black History Month celebration.
“During my career as a police officer, I have had the opportunity to recruit and mentor many amazing individuals,” said James. “Staff Superintendent Kelly Skinner is one of those amazing people.”
Skinner holds James in high esteem.
“To be the first Black female to be promoted to the rank of Staff Superintendent at TPS is an achievement I owe to Terry’s guidance and example,” said Skinner. “She showed us that the path to progress is not always easy, but it was always worth it.
“Her dream was marked with challenges, but she faced them with strength and grace. She taught me that true leadership is about lifting others as you climb, fighting injustice and standing up for the members in our care. For that, I am eternally grateful.”
After completing Sheridan College’s two-year Law & Security program, Skinner joined TPS 25 years ago and was assigned to 31 Division.
With an extensive background in wiretap investigations, she shared her knowledge with members pursuing electronic surveillance courses at the Toronto Police College. She also assisted with instruction on the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario Interception of Private Communications Part VI course and was a panelist in Ministry of the Attorney General-run seminars and fora.
Prior to becoming a senior officer, Skinner was the Executive Officer to the Staff Superintendent of Detective Operations and Deputy Chief of Specialized Operations where she assisted with operations and performance for the Command.
James was instrumental in starting a BHM celebration at police headquarters. The first event took place in 1994.
Promoted to Sergeant in 2001 (she and since retired Inspector Sonia Thomas were the first Black women to be elevated to Sergeant at the same time), she retired in September 2010 after 30 years.
To mark her contribution in playing the lead role in starting a BHM celebration at TPS and her advocacy in making the Service more inclusive, a Trailblazer Award was established in her name last year.
Chief Myron Demkiw said that celebrating James and other TPS trailblazers who led the way for change is essential.
The late Larry McLarty and Gloria Bartley were the first Black TPS officers hired in 1960.
“Black History Month provides an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black people and to celebrate their achievements,” he said. “It is also an opportunity to reflect on the work we continue to do to make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed.”
The Pan-African flag was raised at police headquarters before the BHM celebration.
“The flag serves as a unifying symbol and it honours the shared heritage that connects people of African descent around the globe,” said Demkiw.
Toronto Police Service Board Chair Shelley Carroll, Toronto Police Association President Clayton Campbell and members of the Caribbean Consul corps in Toronto attended the celebration.
“As a Board, Black History Month has always and continues to be an extremely significant event as we pay tribute to the contributions of Black communities, to our city, to our country and to this police service,” Carroll said. “We celebrate the past while looking forward.”
She said the celebration exemplifies the impressive results that can be achieved when the community, police and partners work together for the greater good.
“Over the last several years, the Board has heightened our emphasis on enhanced connection with the community, consistently looking for ways to more meaningfully incorporate the voices and expectations of the public into our policy-making and decision-making process,” she said. “We continue our work on comprehensive policing reform which includes building and supporting new community safety response models, initiatives to address systemic racism and concrete steps to improve trust with our communities.
“Fundamental to this reform remains a categorical recognition of the significant role of anti-Black racism, discrimination and marginalization in our city, impacting policing along with many other public and private systems. We must look to the past, incorporating all of its important lessons if we are to truly create a better future.
“As a Board, we recognize that much work remains to be done and that it must be done in meaningful partnership with others – our diverse communities, including Black communities.
“As we continue to reimagine our current approach to public safety, we know that Black communities are, and must be, a vital voice in this work.”
The Service’s Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit (CPEU), led by Constable Curtis Celestine, co-ordinated this year’s event.
Black History Month evolved from the work of American scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson who, in an attempt to spread the concept of African American history, suggested its celebration during a week in the middle of February.
That month was chosen because it is the birth month of Abraham Lincoln and the chosen birth month of Frederick Douglass who was born a slave and therefore unsure of his actual birth date.
