Devon Clunis facts for kids

Devon Clunis is a well-known Canadian police officer. He served as the chief of the Winnipeg Police Service from 2012 until he retired in 2016. He made history as the first Black Canadian to become a police chief in Canada.

About Devon Clunis

Early Life and Career

Devon Clunis was born in Jamaica in 1964. When he was 11 years old, his family moved to Winnipeg, Canada. They settled in a part of the city called the North End.

In 1987, Clunis joined the police force. Over his career, he worked in many different areas. These included regular patrol, traffic, investigations, and community relations. He also helped with how the police force was organized.

Clunis has a university degree in divinity, which is the study of religion. He also served as the police force's chaplain, offering spiritual support.

Becoming Police Chief

In November 2012, Devon Clunis was chosen to be the chief of the Winnipeg Police Service. This was a very important role. As chief, he led the entire police force.

He strongly supported an idea called community policing. This means police officers work closely with people in neighborhoods. They try to build trust and solve problems together. This approach had started with the previous chief, Keith McCaskill. Clunis wanted it to continue, especially in areas like North Point Douglas.

Retirement and Recognition

Devon Clunis retired from the police force in July 2016. He had served for nearly three decades. To celebrate his retirement, he did something fun. He broke a promise he had kept for almost 30 years: he finally ate a doughnut!

Clunis hoped that the next police chief would continue his focus on community policing. He believed it was important to address the social issues that can lead to crime.

On February 7, 2017, Clunis received a special award. It was the Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Advancement of Interreligious Understanding. This award recognized his efforts to promote understanding between different religions.