Sgt. Brett Carleton

Brett lit up any room he walked in to. What I will remember most about Brett is his cheeky smile, his endless quick-witted jokes and a warm presence that always made people feel heard. I worked with Brett for just under 10 years; in those 10 years Brett had a way of reminding me of why we do the work we do. Although I am not an officer, I was never made to feel 'less than' by Brett. He was the epitome of 'we are all in this together.' I, like many others, admired Brett's work ethic; he truly was one of the good ones. Brett's love for his girls was so evident, you could see it in his eyes every time he spoke of Claire & Sophie. My sincere condolences to Claire, Sophie and Brett's family. Please know Brett left a lasting impression on everyone he met; will be missed by all that knew him. And to all that knew Brett, watch for the signs that will remind us that he is still with us in spirit. Yesterday while I was getting ready for Brett's visitation, a red cardinal flew by my window. I said to my husband, I think Brett just wanted to remind us all that everything is going to be okay. Rest easy, Brett.

My deepest condolences Claire, Sophie and family. I worked with Brett for many years at BPS. He was always a breath of fresh air to run into...friendly, funny and positive. I will miss him dearly. Hold all your memories close, he will always be with you. Sending hugs. Brett, I love ya buddy

Our heartfelt condolences to Brett’s family. Your father was a good man and always a pleasure to work with. His loss is deeply felt throughout the Barrie Police family.

In this time of sadness, I hope you can find comfort in knowing what an incredible man he was and in the lasting impact he had on his coworkers, friends, and community. His kindness, character, and dedication will not be forgotten.

My deepest condolences to Brett's family.
Brett was loved by many, he had an incredible sense of humour and a way of making us all laugh and smile. He seemed to have a nickname for everyone, particularly our last names and he would shout it down the hall.
I will miss this true good Northern boy with a big heart. Rest easy, brother. We love you.

My deepest condolences to Brett's family. He was a great officer but a better person who genuinely care about everybody. His quick wit would always get a laugh and it was a true pleasure to have known and worked with him. He will be deeply missed

My deepest condolences to Brett’s family. He was a great officer and always had a way of lightening the mood. I know his daughters were the highlight of his life. One of our last conversations before I left for maternity leave was him saying, “I hope it’s a girl, because honestly, they’re the best.”
I’ll always remember his sarcastic banter and sense of humour. Brett, you will be deeply missed.

I only had the privilege of working with Brett for a short time being a relatively new member to the service but he left a lasting impression on me. I appreciated our chats whether it was about a something work related or about life, the knowledge and advice he shared with me, his welcoming nature, and especially the way he always made me laugh.

I send my deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, friends, and everyone who knew him.

The good ones go to soon and Brett was most definitely one of the best.

Brett was a friend, one of my forever favourites and one of those people who simply made coming to work better.

He was truly one of the best investigators we had. Incredibly smart, dedicated and dependable, but what made Brett so special was how deeply he cared about people. He was someone everyone trusted, someone you could turn to through the happiest moments and the really difficult ones. He listened, he supported, and he showed up.

I will miss our weekly chats, the banter, his quick wit and sense of humour, his laugh, that unmistakable twinkle in his eyes, and hearing “PARTRIDGE!” yelled across whatever distance happened to separate us - always followed by that huge smile and a wave. Those are the moments I’ll carry with me.

For all that Brett accomplished, nothing made him prouder than Claire and Sophie. As a mom of two girls myself, we often talked about our daughters, and Brett would always tell me that daughters were simply the best. His face lit up when he spoke about his girls, and there was never any question how much he adored them.

Claire and Sophie, I hope you always know how proudly your dad spoke about you and how deeply he was respected, trusted and loved by those fortunate enough to know him. He was an exceptional investigator, a treasured colleague and a very dear friend, but above all else, he was an incredibly proud dad.

My heart goes out to you and your entire family. I feel incredibly lucky to have called your dad my friend, and I will carry his memory with me always.

I’ll miss you terribly, Brett. You will never be forgotten.
Rest in Peace, my friend.

I had the privilege of working with Brett as his partner in CID and later as a member of his team in MC for several years. From the day I started until the day I left his team he at no time treated me as a junior officer..... but rather his equal. Even though his wealth of knowledge and experience surpassed mine in every way.

His infectious laugh and sense of humour made the long hours, stressful cases and bad days bearable. He would always check in on me.. ask me how I'm doing and if I needed anything he was there. Long after I was no longer a member of his team we still visited and kept in touch.

His love for his two girls was so evident every time he spoke about them which he did often. He loved you both so much.

To say I will miss him is an understatement... he still is and always will be someone I admire and look up to. I am a better person for having known him as long as I have and I would give anything to hear his laugh and for him to yell my name "Jimmy".

Rest easy hammer, we will take it from here.

My heart felt condolences to Brett's family. Brett will be deeply missed and made such a positive impact at the Barrie Police Service. I will always consider myself so lucky to have been coached by Brett as a rookie officer and I will remember all the laughs we shared!

Rest in peace Brett, you'll always be remembered.

My deepest condolences to Brett's Family.

It was truly a pleasure and an honour to have known and served with you Brett.

Rest in Peace Brother, you will be missed.

Everyone has said everything you exemplify and you showed everyone that compassion is possible in the worst of times. I only wish that we didnt lose you so soon.
You had a tough job but did it with grace.

Brett was an amazing person, i had a very few conversation with him being a newer to the Service, but yet he made sure everytime i visited his office/floor he always greeted me as if we were friends of long time. We lost an Absolute gem of a person.

May your soul attain peace.

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Brett was someone I genuinely looked up to. Although I outranked him and had the privilege of supervising him for a time in Major Crime, I was the one learning from him. He was one of the finest investigators I have ever known and his confidence and calm in handling some of our most complicated investigations was remarkable.

But what I'll remember just as much is his laugh. Brett would never walk past my office without making me laugh, although usually he made himself laugh even harder. When Brett laughed, he put his entire body into it and it was impossible not to join in. I will miss his incredible ability to tell a story.

He made everyone around him better, especially the many investigators he mentored. His influence will continue through them and I can't think of a more fitting legacy.

Above all, Brett was incredibly proud of his two girls. I feel very fortunate to have worked with him, learned from him and called him a friend.

Rest in peace, Brett. We didn’t know each other particularly well, but through our interactions at work and seeing the way you treated those around you, it was clear that you were an amazing police officer and a great colleague. Funny, friendly, diligent, and deeply committed to your work, you were someone people looked up to and knew they could count on.

Sending comfort and peace to your family, friends, and all those who were lucky enough to know you.

I am in complete shock...... just a few weeks ago you were telling me how old I looked and I joked that one day you would catch me. I am honoured to have worked with you, laughed with you, joked with you, talked crap with you, and had the serious conversations with you. You are one of a kind Brett Carleton, and you will not be forgotten.

My condolences to Brett's Family, especially two his two girls Claire & Sophie. He was SO proud of you both.

Rest in Peace Brother.

Great Guy, Great Copper, Gonna miss joking around with you bud.

Working with Brett was an honor and a truly rewarding experience.
He will be missed.
My heart felt condolences to Brett's family, friends and colleagues

Brett you were an absolute joy to have around BPS. Your presence lit up every room that you came to and your jokes always brought a smile to our faces. Rest in paradise, you will be so greatly missed.

Brett you will be missed by so many. I always loved our times working together, the chats, the successes and the challenges, but especially the laughs. Thoughts and prayers for your entire family and especially Sandy and the girls. RIP Brett

His last email to me was , of course , funny - because that was so HIM. I had tasked him with something , and without hesitation came the reply : "Completed , now stop harassing me lol" - followed by a big smiley face.
I'll always be grateful that my last exchange with you ended with a laugh. I hope you're up there somewhere still giving everyone a hard time and reminding them to stop harassing you.
Rest easy , Sarge. You will be missed more than words can say.

My deepest condolences to Brett’s family. I will always remember him as a kind, sincere and professional officer. I am truly sad to hear of his passing. 💐

Great guy, funny and intelligent. Huge loss, not only as a co-worker but a friend. Pleasure knowing him.

Brett and I were friends for 23 years. Our friendship was built on shared interests, countless adventures, and the many highs and lows that life brought our way. We hunted, fished, snowmobiled, and ATVed together, but some of my fondest memories were the conversations we shared about our families, our two girls, work, and life.

Brett was someone I could always count on—a person I respected, trusted, and knew would be there when I needed advice or simply someone to listen. We quietly became each other’s rock through some difficult times.

I will always remember Brett’s humour. He had a gift for turning even a difficult moment into laughter and was never afraid to make himself the joke, especially when it came to his infamous attempt at growing a moustache.

At work, Brett was the person I visited every day. He was a great police officer whose leadership, knowledge, and genuine care brought comfort to those around him. He loved his work, but nothing compared to his love and devotion for his girls. They were his greatest pride and purpose.

Brett was a genuine friend—a rare friend forged through 23 years of life, laughter, and shared experiences. I feel truly blessed to have known him and to have called him my friend.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” — Proverbs 17:17

Brett will be deeply missed, but the memories, laughter, and friendship we shared will stay with me always.

My family’s deepest condolences for the loss of Brett. He was the most gifted investigator and had the best sense of humor. I feel truly fortunate to have known him, and I am a better person for having had him in my life. He will be deeply missed.

And my heart goes out to your family, And the Barrie Police service during this very difficult time.

Rest in Peace Brent. Whenever you had to deal with me. You were always great and understanding

Brett was the kind of person who had a way of making you feel good just by being around him. No matter what we were talking about, there was always a laugh, and those are the moments I will remember most. I will truly miss our conversations, our laughs, and simply knowing that he was there.

Brett was a great friend and someone I trusted deeply. He was also one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. When he took on something, he gave it everything he had. We worked together on several projects, and I learned so much from him—not just about the work, but about commitment, doing things right, and giving your very best.

I feel incredibly fortunate that our paths crossed and that I had the opportunity to know Brett, work alongside him, and call him my friend. His loss is difficult to put into words. I will carry the memories of our talks, the laughs we shared, and the lessons he taught me for a very long time.

Brett will be deeply missed, but he will never be forgotten.

Brett you truly were one of a kind! Not only were you extremely talented at what you did for work but more importantly you were a great friend, father and companion. You were the guy that could always recognize when someone needed a shoulder to lean on and you always made sure to offer yours! Your infectious laughter and sense of humour made everyone’s moods so much brighter when we were all dealing with difficult situations. Members of our community received nothing but the best when you were involved. You will definitely be missed and will always be loved by myself and every life that you touched!! Rest in Peace Brother!

I'll never forget you and already miss you! I'm so grateful to have work on many cases along side you watching you give your all to not only the investigations but the families that suffered the losses. You made me laugh, lifted me up when I needed a friend and always answered a text day or night! You sparkled a little when you talked about your girl. Your smile and smart ass comments will live within me forever xo

Brett was truly one of a kind. He had a way about him that made everyone he met feel like they mattered. He was an absolute gem to work with, and his wonderful sense of humour helped ease some of the daily stresses of the job. We shared so many laughs, and simply knowing him was an honour.

He will always be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He truly left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. ❤️

Godspeed Brett. You gave so much of yourself. So much compassion, empathy and kindness to so many. Gone far too soon.

Our condolences to the family and friends of Brett. RIP

Brett was truly one of the good ones. He treated everyone with the same value and respect. If he saw you, he would smile, say hello or wink! It was an absolute pleasure to know him and work on the same platoon with him years ago.
Brett you were genuinely a great man, co-worker and friend. To know you was to love you! Your presence will be deeply missed.

Some people come into your life through work and somehow become so much more than just a coworker. He was one of those people. He was funny, kind, genuine, and always there to help anyone who needed him. His laughter, his personality, and the way he made people feel will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He truly was an amazing person, and I feel grateful to have known him.

Colleague, mentor, friend
An amazing police officer and human being
You truly will be missed
My condolences to Brett’s loved ones.

Every day spent with you, laughing with you, working alongside you was a gift. Your presence in my life was impactful and it was important- I loved you and I’ll miss you forever Brett. No one will ever replace you, and we will hold you close in our hearts !

You will always be remembered as an amazing Police Officer and Person. You were fiercely dedicated to your job and put your entire heart and soul into solving every crime thrown your way. RIP Brett. It was a pleasure and honour knowing you. 🖤💙🖤. Jen YRP

My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. Keeping our policing family in my heart and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.

Intelligent, witty, kind and a good heart. That was Brett. The kind of co-worker you want in policing. We lost a good one. Condolences to Brett’s loved ones.

Had the pleasure of working with Brett, and calling him my friend for many years. My deepest sympathies to his family.

My deepest condolences to the Barrie Police Service, and most importantly, to Brett’s family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

It was an honour to have had the opportunity to work alongside Brett and support families in our community. I am grateful for the time I had working with him and will always remember his dedication to helping others.

Thinking of Brett’s family, friends, and his Barrie Police family during this heartbreaking time. 💙

Melissa Carey
Anti-Human Trafficking Specialist
Victim Services of Simcoe County

Such a tragic loss. Our sincere condolences go to his family and his BPS family. Rest in peace, Sgt. Carleton.

I will always think of Brett as that young security guard at RVH while he was gaining experience with the goal to be a police officer. Brett was always there to help us when we worked on the Mental Health Unit. He had great empathy for our clients and he always had a quick smile. His kindness and incredible sense of humour are the traits we all remember. Rest in peace Brett. Gone too soon but never forgotten.

There are only a few I’ve meet since joining, that I felt comfortable opening up to, and you were there.
You helped me through some hard times, listened, made fun of (in a kind hearted way) but always made me feel welcomed and part of the team.
I’ll miss of texts, chats or a smile and laugh just walking by.
You are truly a great man, and one of only a few that made me shed a tear.
I’ll miss you my friend

It was a pleasure meeting sgt. Carleton over the years, our deepest condolences to his family and the BPS family. May he RIP🕊