Karl Davis was a respected officer and gentleman
August 17, 2020
Karl Davis had big plans for retirement.
On the bucket list were a Mediterranean cruise and a road trip across Canada with his wife, Maire.
Sadly, the travel outings didn’t happen.
Diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia prior to retiring from Toronto Police Service as a Staff Inspector in early 2007, his condition deteriorated over the years.
The city’s first Black senior police officer, who overcame COVID-19, died in hospital on August 11.
He was 77.
For the last seven years, the trailblazer was a resident at Orchard Villa Retirement Community in Pickering where 78 seniors succumbed to the virus.
After a decade as a pressman with Northern Miner trade journal, Davis joined Canada’s largest municipal police service in 1972.
Starting at 53 Division, he was later assigned to 55 Division Major Crime Unit before being promoted to Sergeant in 1986 and returning to 53 Division.
Karl Davis (second from left) marching on Eglinton Ave. W. to kick off the National Black Police Association convention in Toronto in 2005
Davis also headed the Mounted and Canine Units, worked in Court Services and was attached to the Toronto Police Services Board at a time when the entity was beginning to engage the community in consultative dialogue. Under then Board Chair June Rowlands, community consultative committees were established to serve as the Board’s conduit to the city’s diverse communities.
“As a liaison officer, Karl was instrumental in the creation and early success of these community consultative committees,” said former Board Chair Alok Mukherjee. “He spent countless hours working with representatives from the many diverse communities to forge essential partnerships that endure today. The passing of Karl is almost like the passing of an era. He was one of those who gave us in the community hope for a better future. Hope that police will be part of a community in a relationship based on respect and trust. The current protest against systemic racism against Black people, Indigenous people and other people of colour symbolizes the failure of that hope following the hard work of people like Karl Davis.”
Promoted to Inspector in 1989, Davis was one of 42 Black officers that met in a focus group in October 2003 to discuss what it’s like to be a Black member of a police service facing racial profiling allegations.
They subsequently submitted a report and made a presentation to then Chief Julian Fantino.
Keith Forde (l), Karl Davis, Peter Sloly and Dave McLeod
In addition to Davis, the other Black senior officers in the group were Keith Forde, Peter Sloly and Dave McLeod.
“Karl was a very quiet person who never spoke loudly to make an impact,” said Forde who retired as Deputy Chief in 2010. “His quiet demeanour spoke volumes of his integrity and character. I would always remember and cherish the times Karl and I were the only two Black senior officers and how we leaned on each other for moral support. I saw him as an integral part of the changing face of the Service in the 1980s and 90s. I am better for knowing Karl.”
Keith Forde (r) made a presentation to Karl Davis at his 2007 retirement ceremony
Retiring five years ago as Superintendent, McLeod held Davis in high esteem.
“Although I didn’t have an opportunity to work directly with Karl, I had the pleasure of interacting with him frequently over the years during our respective careers with the Service,” said the Durham College Adjunct Professor. “I was always struck by his positive outlook, his ever-present smile and his willingness to actively listen to the views of others.”
Davis was part of panels that twice promoted Sloly who retired from Toronto Police in February 2016 and last year became Ottawa’s first Black Police Chief.
“Karl was a brave police officer, a compassionate leader, a glass ceiling breaker, a needed mentor, a good friend and a wonderful person,” said Sloly. “Along with Keith, Dave and I, he courageously took on and advanced a range of systemic Anti-Black racism and human rights issues in policing in the 1990s and 2000s.”
Karl Davis (c) with Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly (l) and York Region Police Superintendent Chris Bullen
As the first senior Black police officer in Canada, Davis was a role model and mentor for many Black officers, including Sonia Thomas who became Toronto Police’s first Black female Inspector in 2010.
“Karl was a role model for many of us who were hired in the late 1980s,” noted Thomas who retired in March 2019 after 33 years with the Service. “As the first Black officer promoted into the senior ranks, we looked up to him for his calm demeanour and caring leadership. He was a man of character who served the organization and the community with a high level of commitment and pride.”
Acting Superintendent Stacy Clarke concurred with Thomas.
“Karl inspired and impacted our lives as an officer and a friend,” she added. “He always had encouraging things to say to everyone.”
Karl Davis (r) with Keith Forde, ex-Toronto Police Auxiliary member Reggie Ramsay and Peter Sloly (l)
As a rookie at 55 Division, James Mackrell was impressed with Davis who was his Training Sergeant.
“He spoke with me and everyone as equals,” recalled the 33 Division Inspector. “He was a gentleman with no detractors. We could all aspire to have the respect of all the way he did. Karl rose through the ranks without hurting anyone along the way.”
Born in Hamilton and raised in Toronto, Davis completed high school at Central Tech where he did caretaker duties to support his family after his father – Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters co-founder James Desmond Davis – died in 1958.
His mother, Norma Bette Toliver who passed away in 1989, was a member of the Canadian Negro Women’s Club. She was the grand-daughter of freedom seeker John Holland who came to Canada in 1860 through the Underground Railroad and was a railway porter for 33 years and pastor at the historic Stewart Memorial Church.
The oldest of three siblings, Davis was adored by his sisters Janice Gairey and Melanie Davis.
“Karl was a reserved, honest and kind person who did many good things in his own quiet way without seeking accolades,” said Gairey, a former Ontario Federation of Labour Human Rights Director and Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Ontario chapter president. “He was just such a good and solid person that I and my sister looked up to as a role model.”
Karl Davis with his sisters Janice Gairey (l) and Melanie Davis, wife Maire (r) and their son Erick
Davis and his wife were married for 56 years.
“Karl was a wonderful man who loved his job as a police officer,” she said. “His time with the Mounted and Canine Units were among his best during his 35 years with Toronto Police.”
The couple produced two children, Erick and Brian.
A celebration of Davis’ life takes place on August 21 at McEachnie Funeral Home, 28 Old Kingston Rd. in Ajax. The viewing takes place from 4-6 p.m. followed by the service in the chapel.
