‘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,’ says sister of missing local woman
A veteran homicide detective in Barrie is being remembered as a “dedicated police officer” who always made time for the families of victims, no matter the hour.
This morning, Barrie police announced the passing of Sgt. Brett Carleton, who was involved in many significant cases in the city over the years.
“Sgt. Brett Carleton was a highly respected and dedicated police officer who served for the past 26 years,” Chief Rich Johnston stated in an announcement this afternoon. “To us, he was more than a colleague, he was our friend.”
Barrie police shared on social media on Thursday: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of one of our own.”
No cause of death has been disclosed.
Police say Carleton will be remembered as a “dedicated police officer who worked with many families over the years during some of their toughest moments, doing so with professionalism and commitment that we are proud to have experienced alongside him. He will be greatly missed.”
One family affected by his work is that of Autumn Shaganash, a local Indigenous woman who has been missing since 2023.
Carleton had been serving as lead investigator in her case.
“When I heard the news, I instantly started crying and I couldn’t believe it,” Autumn’s sister, Lili-Anne Moore, remarked.
“Brett has been part of my life for three years now, and he’s always supported me when I had questions,” she continued. “I could just send him a text at 4 a. m., and he’d read it almost instantly; he was always there for me.
“I really appreciated having that relationship with him, and it’s very heartbreaking,” Moore said. “I felt like he was a piece of my sister.”
Moore mentioned she spoke to Carleton just last week.
“He told me he was on vacation,” she said. “He was supposed to reach out to me this week.”
“He put so much effort into my sister’s case; I’m not sure I’ll find someone else like that regarding my sister’s situation,” Moore explained. “He was truly one of a kind … he’s been there since Day 1.”
Moore noted how Carleton would often check in on her well-being.
“He asked if everything was good on my end; I told him things were fine and that I couldn’t wait for the kids to go back to school because it’s been such a busy summer,” she added.
<p wayne frechette served as Barrie's police chief from 2000 to 2010. Before that role, he directed Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) criminal investigations branch (CIB) from 1993 to 1994.
“I knew him as a good, honest, hard-working cop,” Frechette said.
The former chief recognized Carleton through his impressive investigative work.
“At that time he wasn’t necessarily in formal leadership but definitely displayed leadership qualities,” he said.
Carlton also led investigations into recent double-homicide cases at local homeless encampments which resulted in murder charges against Robert Ladouceur. That ongoing case involves victims William ‘Blake’ Robinson and David ‘Kyle’ Cheesequay-both in their 40s-and remains before the courts.
An earlier case includes the shooting death of April Dobson on Browning Trail back in October 2005; that unsolved incident still requires investigation efforts.
Carlton began his career with Toronto Police Service back in 2000 before joining Barrie Police Service as an experienced constable two years later in 2002.
Dedicating his career to multiple investigative units within Barrie police over time led him to earn promotion as sergeant within homicide & major crime unit by early 2023.
His outstanding performance received multiple commendations throughout his service period; notably earning recognition certificates including acknowledgment received from Province Ontario along with another one awarded by Barrie’s mayor due to exceptional investigative contributions reported previously during services rendered throughout duty hours committed towards public safety initiatives taken seriously while responding promptly whenever required assistance arose concerning various matters handled regularly within respective communities served daily.
