Toronto Police Service

S/Supt. Darren Smith began his policing career with the Toronto Police Service (TPS), in 1979. During his 31 year career, he has served in Traffic, Divisional Policing, Human Resources and Criminal Investigations. He has held senior management positions in many areas of the TPS. He currently leads the Human Resource Development Command.

S/Supt. Smith is a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier (St. FX) University in Adult Education. He holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Guelph and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston, Massachusetts. As well, he has completed various Executive Development programs at York University, the Ontario Police College (OPC) and the Canadian Police College (CPC). Darren is a frequent lecturer at different educational institutions and has taught at the OPC, CPC, FBI National Academy, and Humber College, to name only a few. For eight years, he was a principal instructor in Adult Education at St. FX University and has taught adult learning at many of the police training institutions in Canada and the United States.

S/Supt. Smith is a member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and Police Executive Research Forum in Washington D.C. Previously he served for several years on the executive of Ontario Association of Police Educators, including two terms in the office of vice-president and president.

In the past, S/Supt. Smith has participated in several major policing initiatives. He assisted in the creation of Use of Force Model and was the first police officer to provide expert testimony in the courts, thus having it accepted by the judiciary. S/Supt. Smith facilitated the first meeting of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the Garda at the FBI Academy during the restructuring of the RUC. Locally, Darren authored the first e-learning in the Toronto Police Service over 15 years ago. More recently, he led the creation of the Toronto Police Services' first Community Mobilization Unit.

S/Supt. Smith is proud of his diverse ties with the community. He has served on several community agencies including those focused on youth-at-risk. S/Supt. Smith co-chairs the Black Community Police Consultative Committee in Toronto. He has been a 'host father' for visiting youth in the Rotary Club's international youth exchange program. A life-long student of traditional Japanese martial arts, Darren has travelled extensively in the world teaching and demonstrating these arts. He is one of the highest ranking jujutsu practitioners in Canada and has led several Canadian teams in international events. S/Supt. Smith's commitment to excellence and his community efforts have been recognized several times through assorted awards and commendations.

S/Supt. Smith is a proven leader who is solidly committed to police learning and community policing. Darren is a strong proponent of innovation in these fields and he encourages and develops initiatives that support this worthy venture.