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Deputy Commissioner, Operations

Deputy-Commissioner-Coxon-bio

Title: Deputy Commissioner, Operations

Name: Shawna Coxon, O.O.M., PhD

Native Of: Canada

Appointed: 2021

Career Highlights:

Honoured to have served as a police officer since 1996 in the City of Toronto, Canada in the following assignments:

Joined Toronto Police Service in 1996 and proudly serving the communities of the City of Toronto as a police officer for 25 years.
Police Constable, 14 Division (1997-2004) proudly worked in one of the busiest police divisions in downtown Toronto. During this time worked as both a police and detective constable in priority response, the vice unit, the warrant office and youth services.

Detective Constable, Sex Crimes Unit (2004-2007) Investigated high risk sexual offences including those involving stranger-on-stranger and repeat offenders. As the lead investigator, managed cases through every level of court.

Sergeant, 53 Division (2007-2008) Promoted to Sergeant and worked as a front-line supervisor in the midtown area of Toronto.

Sergeant, Diversity Management Unit (2008-2010) Dealt with every aspect of human rights within the Service including governance, training, providing guidance on investigations and tackling systemic issues.

Detective Sergeant, Professional Standards Unit, Criminal Investigations Section (2010-2012) Promoted to Detective Sergeant and investigated both criminal and serious misconduct offences involving members of the Service as well as members in other police services in Ontario. Managed these cases through criminal court and the police tribunal.

Staff Sergeant, Community Response Unit, 33 Division (2012-2013) Led the proactive policing strategy and personnel assigned to proactive policing in the Don Mills area of Toronto.

Staff/Sergeant, Operation Reboot Team Leader (2013-2014) Team lead on a project dedicated to maximising the efficient and effective use of cyber-technology, and open source information (including social media) to continually improve the quality of police services within Toronto. This has led to a number of recommendations including new governance, a new training model and a new Computer Cyber Crime (C3) Support Section.

Detective/Sergeant, Computer Cyber Crime (C3) & Strategic Assessment and Analysis Section (SAAS) of Intelligence Services (2014-2015) In charge of the inaugural C3 Section, with a team of investigators who provide online investigative support for all manner of crimes with a cyber-component including but not limited to cyber-attacks against the Service, cyber-bullying, homicides, national security, and gang-related violence. SAAS is a totally different area of Intelligence with analysts, researchers and other Service Members who utilise intelligence analysis to identify emerging threats, predictive analysis, set law enforcement priorities, and to advise management at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels.

Inspector, Intelligence Services (2015-2017) Promoted to the rank of Inspector and became second-in-charge of intelligence management for the City of Toronto. This unit includes covert operations/source management, undercover operations, mobile surveillance, operational intelligence (organised crime, urban crime), project management, statistical assessment and analysis, computer cybercrime, technological crime, and the security section (overseeing national security threats, VIP protection, international assistance, NYPD liaison, airport squad liaison and internal/external threat assessments and hate crime).

Inspector, Transformation Task Force (2016-2017) Chosen by the Chief of Police for a committee of internal and community experts to modernise policing. This led to the strategy outlined in ‘The Way Forward’.

Inspector, Chief’s Office, Organisational Change Management Unit (2017) Implemented the first organisational change management unit in policing in Canada to facilitate the ‘people side of change’ as the Service began implementing The Way Forward.

Deputy Chief, Priority Response Command (2017 –2020) Promoted to Deputy Chief of Police and oversaw all front-line policing units and administration, Criminal Investigation Bureaus, and support areas of all 16 police divisions, as well as Communications (911), Court Services and the Operation Centre. This Command encompasses every aspect of reactive policing in Toronto, from the time 911 is called, through the police uniform and investigative response, as well as the court process.

Deputy Chief, Communities & Neighbourhoods Command (2020) Led the proactive policing response for the City of Toronto including all proactive policing and major crime units in all 16 police divisions, as well as the Community Partnership and Engagement Unit, Traffic Services and Parking Enforcement.

Deputy Chief, Human Resources Command (December 2020 – April 2021) This Command includes Professional Standards, Equity Inclusion and Human Rights, Wellness, Labour Relations, the Hearings Office, Talent Acquisition, the Toronto Police College and People Strategy and Performance.

Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Law (Criminal), University of Leicester, United Kingdom - 2014
  • Masters in Criminology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON - 2001
  • Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, York University, Glendon College, Toronto, ON - 1996