The Barrie Police Service is mourning the loss of Sgt. Brett Carleton, a long-serving investigator who has passed away.
His death was announced on social media on Thursday morning with no cause of death or other details disclosed.
Sgt. Carleton was with Barrie Police since 2000 after beginning his policing career with the Toronto Police Service in 2000.
In his time with Barrie Police, Carleton worked in several investigative units as well as the service's Emergency Support Unit from 2003 to 2011 before being promoted to Sergeant of the Homicide and Major Crime Unit in 2023.
The service says Sgt. Carleton also contributed to the development of other members of the service through his time as a Coach Officer, helping train new officers.
“To us, he was more than a colleague – he was our friend," Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston said in a statement emailed to Barrie360.
"Sgt. Carleton will be remembered as a dedicated police officer who worked with many families over the years during some of the toughest moments of their lives, and he did it with such professionalism and commitment that we are proud to have worked alongside him."
He had been a lead investigator on many high-profile cases, including the murder of April Dobson, an alleged double homicide at a Barrie encampment in the summer of 2025, and the disappearance of Indigenous woman Autumn Shaganash, who went missing in 2023.
Sgt. Carleton's work was recognized through multiple Formal Commendation Certificates. In 2017, he received a commendation for going beyond the normal or expected level of work performance in recognition of life-saving actions. In 2020, he received one each from Ontario government and the City of Barrie recognizing his investigative work.
