Skip to Main Content
You are now in the main content area

Devon Clunis

Devon Clunis


Reason for Inclusion / First: First Black Chief of Police in Canada. First Black Chief of Police of the Winnipeg Police Service.

Bio / Key facts: DOB - DOD, Place of Birth, Occupation: Clunis is a first generation immigrant. He was born in a non affluent part of Jamaica in 1963. In 1975, he and his family migrated to Canada.

Early years/ Motivations: As a recent immigrant to Canada and a Black male youth, Clunis encountered racism for the first time in his life.  He sought to transcend racial intolerance and stereotypical attitudes by withdrawing from persons and situations he felt placed him at risk. Clunis marks as key influences his mother, his elementary school teacher, Mrs. Hannah, and a number of other teachers and coaches. His positive experiences with these nurturing authority figures is one of the many reasons he joined the Winnipeg Police Service and embarked on a career of community building in 1987. At that time, Clunis was in his final year of university.

Key accomplishments/contributions: Clunis had an extensive career within the Winnipeg Police Service having served in patrol, investigation, community relations, the chaplaincy unit, organizational development, operational command, and as a superintendent. In 2012, Clunis was sworn in as Chief of Police of the Winnipeg Police Service. This made him the first Black Canadian to become a Chief of Police.

Later years/Present day: Clunis retired in 2016 as the highest paid city employee in Winnipeg.  Following his retirement, Clunis launched his new children’s book — The Little Boy From Jamaica — co-authored with his wife, Pearlene. In 2016 Clunis was also awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding. In addition, he gave a TedTalk - Changing our World (external link, opens in new window)  - on community building, Indigenous rights to space, his policing career and his life.

He continues to work directly in the field of policing as a consultant for the Winkler Police Department and Morden Police Department in Winnipeg. Clunis also assists grassroots organizations such as the Bear Clan Patrol (external link, opens in new window) , which has nearly 1500 volunteers who engage in community based crime prevention drawing on Indigenous values and traditions.

Sources: