Ingrid Berkeley-Brown

Ingrid Berkeley-Brown immigrated to Canada from Georgetown, Guyana, in 1974, settled in Toronto with her mother and siblings, and in 1989, Ingrid moved to Cambridge. In 1986 she joined the Peel Regional Police where she began a long and innovative career. Her experience included a variety of assignments with the police service – from uniform patrol to race and ethnic relations, community services, criminal investigations, Divisional commander, and eventually, Deputy Chief from 2018 to 2020. In 2016, in a promotion to Superintendent in the Peel Regional Police Service, she became the highest ranking Black female police officer in Canada and remained the highest ranking Black female police officer with her promotion to Deputy Chief.

While her workday was in Peel Region, her home was the Region of Waterloo. Committed to community development Ingrid became actively involved in Cambridge Youth Soccer as a coach and in the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR). As a member of the CCAWR she served as a board member, secretary, and president of the organization. For the past number of years, she has provided an annual scholarship for a youth from the Region of Waterloo entering college or university.

Her most outstanding contribution to the Region has been as a role model and mentor for women and members from the racialized and marginalized community including those interested in a career in policing. She has served on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Human and Civil Rights Committee and has co-chaired the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee where she continues to serve as a member. Her many awards include the United Achievers Club Community Award, the African-Canadian Achievement Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement, the Police Exemplary Service Medal, and the International Women Achievers Women of Courage Award. Former Waterloo Region Police Chief, Bryan Larkin, commented, “Ingrid is celebrated as a trail blazer who left her mark on policing nationally…As a citizen of Waterloo Region, [she has provided] leadership, advocacy as well as advancing equity across Waterloo Region for the betterment of all…Ms. Berkeley leaves behind a legacy of leadership that will be difficult to replace.”