Chaplain Recognized for Community Work
Toronto Police Service Chaplain Wendell Gibbs was the recipient of a Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leadership Award on January 18 in Whitby.
“It is a humbling honour to be of service to the wider community,” he said.
Several TPS members attended the event, including 55 Division Superintendent Kim O’Toole and Inspector Michael Hayles where Gibbs is attached as a chaplian as well as Constables Curtis Celestine of the Community Partnerships & Engagement Unit and Manny Chahal of the Wellness Unit, and fellow TPS Chaplian Daniel Saugh.
“Chaplain Wendell Gibbs receiving this award is a profound recognition of his unwavering dedication to fostering peace and unity within the community,” said Chahal, who coordinates Toronto Police volunteer chaplains, who provide support in times of celebration, bereavement, and crisis situations to Service members and their extended family.
“In 2024 alone, Wendell’s extraordinary contributions included supporting eight Divisions, attending over 30 events and dedicating 192 hours to serving the TPS community. His chaplaincy visits, prayer walks, and presence at retirements, memorials and community events brought comfort and inspiration to many.
“This award recognizes not only his impactful work in combating racism and addressing societal challenges, but also the immeasurable positivity and guidance he brings to those he serves. He embodies the spirit of service and leadership, making him a true role model and an invaluable part of our team.”
Gibbs has been a vital link between police and the public they are sworn to serve.
It began years earlier as an Assistant Pastor in the Heron Park neighbourhood connecting police officers with members of their community. He has since evolved to wearing a uniform as a volunteer Toronto Police Chaplain, ministering to police officers as well as still playing a role connecting police to the community.
Gibbs and the Canadian Black Clergy & Allies, which is a faith-based organization formed in 2020 after the George Floyd murder, have organized prayer breakfasts with police officers and the faith community and prayer walks across the city to encourage partnerships among police and faith groups.
He has been part of pastoral networks for 25 years and a full-time pastor of the First Baptist Church in Toronto. Established in 1826, it is the oldest Black institution in Toronto and one of the oldest in Ontario.
