Barbara Mclean

Barbara McLean was appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief in August 2017, following an extensive global search for a successful candidate. Deputy Chief McLean is currently in charge of Human Resources Command, which is comprised of two core functions: People and Culture (responsible for Labour Relations, Wellness, Talent Acquisition, People Strategy and Performance and Business Partnership) and Corporate Risk Management (responsible for Professional Standards, Legal Services, and the Toronto Police College). This Command is responsible for ensuring that the hiring, training, discipline and development of Service members continues to be an ongoing, progressive priority.

Deputy Chief Barbara McLean is a senior police leader with over 28 years of experience with the Toronto Police Service. She has extensive experience and a proven track record in policing, public safety, community engagement, policy development, strategic planning, fiscal accountability, and leadership development. These skills are a result of applied experience and leadership in areas including front-line policing, marine policing, criminal investigation, human resources, training and development, incident command, and through her commitment to lifelong learning and community involvement.

In 2016, Barbara was selected by Chief Mark Saunders and Toronto Police Services Board Chair, Andy Pringle, to be a member of the Transformational Task Force whose mandate was to develop the vision and make recommendations to modernize policing in the City of Toronto. Barbara remains a key leader and influencer in the modernization strategy and its implementation.

One of Barbara’s major leadership assignments began in January of 2017. As a strategic partner with the Service’s Human Resources Management team, she was instrumental in driving the HR Modernization implementation with a People Plan and a restructuring strategy designed to position human resources to deliver programs needed to further the Service’s modernization vision.

Barbara holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (St. Francis Xavier University), a Master of Business Administration (York University), a Master of Industrial Relations and Human Resources (University of Toronto), and Certificates in Criminology (University of Toronto) and Teaching Effectiveness (Humber College). She is also a Certified Municipal Manager - Level 3 Police Executive.

Service and volunteering are very important to Barbara. She serves on the Toronto Police Service’s LGBTQ Community Consultative Committee and is a founding member and current advisor to the Service’s LGBTQ Internal Support Network. Barbara is a mentor and advocate within TPS - driving engagement, improved service delivery and strategic partnerships.

Barbara is an active board member for MADD Toronto whose mission is to stop impaired driving and support victims of crime. She also serves as an engaged service volunteer with Windreach Farm, a fully accessible working farm that provides an inclusive, safe and welcoming environment for persons of all ages and abilities in Whitby, Ontario.