Board Biography

Keith Forde

In 2005, Keith L. Forde became the first visible minority Deputy Chief of Police in the history of the Toronto Police Service. He is responsible for TPS Human Resources Command and oversees: hiring and promotion; training and education and community mobilization. The Human Resources Command has an annual budget of more than 37 million dollars.

Prior to this appointment as Deputy Chief, he was the Superintendent in charge of the Toronto Police Service Training & Education Unit. There, he introduced many innovative changes. He established a Human Relations Section with the mandate to design and deliver courses in “Professionalism in Policing” which focuses on ethics, diversity and customer service. He also ensured that ethics and diversity training was interwoven through every aspect of the curriculum.

He has been active in law enforcement for over 35 years. He brings to his position as Deputy Chief considerable experience and knowledge of both police operations and organizational management. He has held diverse management positions including: Duty Operations, Unit Commander of Divisions 52 and 11, Prosecution Services, Complaints Review and Community Policing Support.

He is an outspoken advocate for Employment Equity. He has also championed the need for improved race relations within the Police Service. Because of his longstanding ties to the community, Deputy Forde has been successful in fostering several productive partnerships between communities, government agencies and organizations within and outside of Toronto.

He has completed studies at Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, Seneca College and Humber College.

From 1995 – 1997 he was Aide de Camp to the Honourable Henry N.R. Jackman, C.M., K.ST. J., LLD, the then Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

He is a tireless community worker presently sitting on the Board of Directors for: the Scarborough Hospital, the United Way Youth Challenge Fund and Sickle Cells – Camp Jumoke. He is an active fundraiser for several community organizations including the Olive Branch of Hope, Church of the Nativity, and Save the Youth Support Services.

Deputy Forde has received numerous awards from citizens groups, community organizations, government agencies, faith groups and from within the policing community. Selected awards include the Harry Jerome Trailblazer Award, the African Canadian Achievement Award, Barbados Community Recognition Award, Jamaica Community Award, the Bob Marley Community Award and the Chief of Police Excellence Award.