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Gloria Bartley

Gloria Bartley


Reason for inclusion / First: First Black Woman to serve as a Toronto Police Officer.

Bio / Key facts: DOB - DOD, Place of Birth, Occupation:  Bartley was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1934 and died in 2018 at the age of 84. She was the first Black woman to serve as a Toronto police officer in 1960.

Early years/ Motivations: Bartley migrated from Trinidad and Tobago to Toronto, Canada in 1958. 

Key accomplishments/contributions: Bartley joined the police force months after Toronto’s first Black male police officer, Larry McLarty. Officer George White said “there was a buzz in the Service when Bartley broke the female colour line.”

She resigned in 1967, after 7 years of service, to raise a family. This resignation was not a voluntary choice but was mandated. Prior to 1972, female officers had to resign after giving birth. As a result, Bartley embarked on the role of raising her son Alonzo Bartley.

Later years/ Present day: Bartley died on 16 April, 2018 at the age of 84. Her funeral was attended by several retired and active officers, including Inspector Sonia Thomas who is the highest ranking Black female Toronto police officer. Bartley was remembered as an extraordinary yet humble trailblazer whose legacy lives on today.

Other / Interesting facts: Barley was married to Ralph Bartley and they had one son, Alonzo Bartley. Alonzo describes his mother as “very quiet and reserved…even though she was a trailblazer, she didn’t go out of her way to tell people. That wasn’t her style. She was very humble, but an extraordinary woman in the sense that she was always willing to give sound advice. My mother lived a full life.” He also still has his mother’s original uniform and says “he would like to see it displayed at the Toronto police headquarters museum”.

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