Durham Regional Police Deputy Chief Chris Kirkpatrick is retiring after a police watchdog found he committed misconduct by using a racial slur during an internal meeting in Oshawa, Ontario. The Durham Regional Police Service Board announced on July 27, 2026, that it had agreed with Kirkpatrick to end their employment relationship following the investigation.
Kirkpatrick was suspended in February 2026 after he allegedly used the N-word while speaking to Black officers and staff at a meeting of the service’s Afro-Caribbean Canadian Internal Support Network. The incident happened in Oshawa and quickly led to a probe by the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, an independent civilian body that handles police misconduct complaints in Ontario.
The agency delivered its findings to the police board on July 9, 2026, and the board reviewed them before concluding Kirkpatrick would not return to his job. Kirkpatrick, a 29-year police veteran who previously served with Toronto Police, had been suspended with pay since late February.
This is not Kirkpatrick’s first disciplinary issue. In 2024, he was docked 94 hours of pay after he was caught speeding twice in two days in his police-issued vehicle, including once through a school zone. He admitted at the time that his driving could undermine public trust in policing.
The retirement brings an end to Kirkpatrick’s career amid wider concerns about workplace culture inside the Durham Regional Police Service. An Ontario Civilian Police Commission investigation, launched in 2019 and completed in 2025, found a “poisoned work environment” within the service. That report detailed harassment, favouritism, and management hostility toward officers seeking mental health support.
While the board said it is committed to high standards, inclusive culture, and public trust, the head of the Durham Regional Police Association, Andrew Tummonds, called the outcome “far and above and beyond” what was needed. He said some members who were present during the meeting felt Kirkpatrick’s words were wrong but did not warrant punishment.
The board is chaired by Ajax Mayor Shaun Collier and includes seven members, three appointed by the province and four chosen by regional council. Chief Peter Moreira has led the service since March 2023 and was recently sworn in as president of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police for 2026-2027.
