Longtime investigator remembered for commitment to victims' families
The Barrie Police Service has announced the death of Sgt. Brett Carleton, a veteran investigator who spent more than two decades with local policing. The service said Carleton, who joined the police in 2000, will be remembered for his professionalism and the support he offered to families during some of their hardest moments.
Chief Rich Johnston issued a statement acknowledging Carleton’s long service and the impact of his loss. In a social-media post the service said it was sharing the news "with heavy hearts." No cause of death has been released by police.
Cases that defined a career
During his time with Barrie policing, Sgt. Carleton worked on a number of high-profile files and served in several investigative units. He was promoted to sergeant of the Homicide and Major Crime Unit in 2023. Police noted he also spent years as part of the service’s Emergency Support Unit and contributed to training newer officers as a Coach Officer.
| Year | Role / Note |
|---|---|
| 2000 | Begins policing career (Toronto Police Service) and later joins Barrie Police Service |
| 2003–2011 | Member of Barrie Police Emergency Support Unit |
| 2023 | Promoted to Sergeant, Homicide and Major Crime Unit |
Sgt. Carleton’s name was attached to several prominent investigations in Barrie, including the case of April Dobson, a reported double homicide at a local encampment during the summer of 2025, and the 2023 disappearance of Indigenous woman Autumn Shaganash. Police records also show he received multiple Formal Commendation Certificates throughout his career for investigative and life-saving actions, including recognitions from the provincial government and the City of Barrie in 2020.
Families and colleagues describe a dependable investigator
For families of victims, the loss is personal. Autumn Shaganash’s sister described Carleton as someone who was consistently available and supportive through the trauma of a long, unresolved missing-person investigation.
"I could just send him a text at 4 a.m. and he'll read it almost instantly, and he's always been there for me,"
Those words, spoken by Shaganash’s sister, underline the close relationships some investigators develop with families as cases drag on. She said Carleton had been part of her life for three years, often answering questions at any hour, and that she spoke with him as recently as last week when he told her he was on vacation.
Police colleagues also paid tribute. Barrie Police Chief Rich Johnston said Carleton was "more than a colleague — he was our friend" and praised his dedication to victims and to mentoring other officers.
- 26 years of policing service, beginning in 2000.
- Promoted to Sergeant of Homicide and Major Crime Unit in 2023.
- Worked on major local cases, including the Dobson homicide and the Shaganash disappearance.
Local context and ramifications
The passing of a senior homicide investigator reverberates through a police service and the community it serves. Experienced detectives carry institutional knowledge that shapes how difficult investigations are run, how evidence is handled and how families are supported. Carleton’s role mentoring junior officers means his absence will be felt both in active investigations and in the training and development of newer staff.
For ongoing cases where he was the lead, including the disappearance of Autumn Shaganash, the announcement raises questions about continuity and next steps. The Barrie Police Service has not released details about investigation staffing changes. Typically, when an investigator with long-term responsibility is suddenly unavailable, police will reassign files to ensure continuity and to maintain contact with affected families; those arrangements are managed internally in consultation with unit leadership.
The service’s message of grief also signals a reminder that policing in growing Ontario cities like Barrie leans heavily on a relatively small number of experienced investigators who work across the urban and rural reaches of the region. Their departures — through retirement, transfer or death — require institutional adjustments that affect workload and case progress.
No public funeral or memorial details had been posted by the service at the time of the announcement. The Barrie Police Service is expected to provide further information about tributes and operational measures in the coming days.
