Thomas Carrique (police officer)

Carrique joined the York Regional Police in 1990. He has worked in the intelligence unit, the drugs and vice enforcement unit, and led the traffic bureau, organized crime unit, and special services unit before being named a deputy chief of police in 2011.{{Cite web |title=Carrique named deputy chief |url=https://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/1439219-carrique-named-deputy-chief/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=MuskokaRegion.com |language=en-CA}} He left the York Regional Police in 2019 after 29 years, which he emotionally described as "hardest decision of my life".{{cite news |date=6 June 2019 |title=Thomas Carrique sworn in as new OPP commissioner |publisher=CBC |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/thomas-carrique-sworn-in-as-new-opp-commissioner-1.5165243}}{{Cite web |title=Emotional Thomas Carrique discusses appointment as OPP commissioner {{!}} Watch News Videos Online |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/5043335/emotional-thomas-carrique-discusses-appointment-as-opp-commissioner/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

Carrique was initially the provincial government's second choice behind Superintendent Ron Taverner of the Toronto Police Service to lead the OPP, however, Taverner withdrew his name from consideration in March 2019 after claims of political interference due to his close relationship with Premier Doug Ford sparked an investigation by the provincial integrity commissioner.{{cite news |title=Doug Ford didn't breach rules in Taverner appointment, integrity commissioner says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-ontario-integrity-commissioner-ron-taverner-1.5064451 |publisher=CBC |date=20 March 2019}}

In May 2020 Carrique went public with his concerns over a "toxic workplace culture" and the officer suicide problem experienced by the OPP. Between 2012 and 2020, 17 OPP officers committed suicide.{{Cite news |last=Freeze |first=Colin |date=2020-03-10 |title=Head of Ontario police asks for government help to deal with officer suicides and toxic workplace culture |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-head-of-ontario-police-asks-for-government-help-to-deal-with-officer/ |access-date=2022-05-23}}

Following the death by gunfire of Constable Marc Hovingh in November 2020, in October 2021 Carrique reached out to a local newspaper to explain how the OPP had improved member wellness since he arrived on the scene.{{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Lori |title=Member wellness a priority for OPP, multiple and ongoing supports offered |url=https://www.manitoulin.com/member-wellness-a-priority-for-opp-multiple-and-ongoing-supports-offered/ |agency=Manitoulin Expositor |publisher=Manitoulin Publishing Company Ltd |date=6 October 2021}}

On March 24, 2022, Carrique testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security that the OPP's intelligence bureau identified a threat associated with the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa on February 7, one week before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act". He stated that the demonstrations constituted a "provincial and national emergency", and that the "situation and the associated events simultaneously taking place across Canada required unprecedented national collaboration to prevent injury, preserve life and protect critical infrastructure."{{Cite web |title=Convoy protest was a national security threat, Ontario police boss says |url=https://www.timescolonist.com/national-news/convoy-protest-was-a-national-security-threat-ontario-police-boss-says-5195808 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Victoria Times Colonist |language=en}}

Carrique was named a member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces on January 11, 2013, he was promoted to Officer of the Order of Merit on January 20, 2020, and to Commander on January 12, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Office of the Secretary to the Governor General |first= |title=Commissioner Thomas W. B. Carrique |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/154-3456 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=The Governor General of Canada}} On October 21, 2021, he earned a 30 year bar to his Police Exemplary Service Medal.{{cite news |title=OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique Presented Police Exemplary Service Award 30yr Service Bar |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcK4yEw8gzU |agency=YouTube |publisher=OPP Association |date=21 October 2021}}

On November 30, 2021, Carrique received an honour from First Nations leaders for his work following National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.{{cite news |last1=Sound |first1=Donna |last2=Vasquez-Peddie |first2=Anthony |date=5 December 2021 |title=OPP commissioner receives rare Indigenous honour |publisher=CTV News |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/opp-commissioner-receives-rare-indigenous-honour-1.5694161}}{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Rob |date=30 November 2021 |title=First Nations leaders honour OPP commissioner with eagle feathers in Orillia |publisher=Bell Media |agency=CTV News |url=https://barrie.ctvnews.ca/first-nations-leaders-honour-opp-commissioner-with-eagle-feathers-in-orillia-1.5687833}}

Carrique's son Danny serves in the South Simcoe Police Service, and his daughter is a crime analyst. He was inspired to become a police officer by his father, who was an auxiliary officer with the Toronto Police Service.{{Cite web |title=My Story: OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique |url=https://rogerstv.com/media?lid=237&rid=23&gid=315952}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Commissioners of the Ontario Provincial Police

Category:Commanders of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)