Alton C. Parker (July 3, 1907 – February 28, 1989) was a Canadian police officer who became the first

black Canadian Black Canadians (also known as Caribbean-Canadians or Afro-Canadians) are people of full or partial sub-Saharan African descent who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin, though t ...

detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...

. A native of Windsor, Ontario, he entered the Windsor Police Service in September 1942 as a

constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

. After a 28-year career and various volunteer positions, he received several honours, including the Order of Canada.

Early life

Alton C. Parker was born in Windsor, Ontario, on July 3, 1907, where he remained for the rest of his life. A mechanic by trade, he worked as a foreman at a used car dealership. He was also president of the Central Citizens Association, a group organized to (among other things) employ black people in Windsor's public services. He was the most qualified candidate to enter the police force.

Career

On September 1, 1942, Parker was hired by the Windsor Police Service as a

. His appointment met some resistance before his professional demeanor swayed those fellow officers. On July 28, 1951, he was promoted by Chief Constable Farrow to become Canada's first black

. He was a founding member of Apartment Living for Physically Handicapped Adults (ALPHA). In the 1960s, he became a director of Goodwill Industries and hosted an annual children's event at Broadhead Park, a site renamed in his honor in 1976.

Later life and death

Parker retired on December 30, 1970. In 1976, he was appointed to the Order of Canada.Order of Canada: Alton C. Parker, C.M., LL.D.
Archives of the Governor General of Canada. He also received the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship and the

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'argent de la reine Elizabeth II) is a commemorative medal created in 1977 to mark the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession in 1952. The medal is p ...

. Parker died on February 28, 1989, aged 81; his funeral service attracted such a large crowd that loudspeakers and radio carried the speeches to many listeners.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Alton C. 1907 births 1989 deaths Black Canadian people Canadian police officers People from Windsor, Ontario Members of the Order of Canada