Deputy Commissioner Shawna Coxon is known for her commitment to continuous innovation and modernisation in a rapidly changing, increasingly globalised world. She is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Policing Operations at An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s National Security and Police Service. An Garda Síochána is the primary law enforcement agency in the Republic of Ireland, providing policing and state security services throughout the State. It is comprised of over 17,000 personnel, including approximately 14,400 sworn Garda members, 3,300 Garda staff and 200 Garda Reserves accommodated in over 600 offices nationwide. The Garda annual budget extends to approximately €2.5b.
Prior to that, Shawna Coxon was a Deputy Chief of Police with the Toronto Police Service where she led three commands at different times: Human Resources, Primary Response, and Communities and Neighbourhoods. Throughout her time as Deputy in these areas, she was responsible for driving the progressive hiring, training, discipline and development of Service members. She oversaw all front-line policing, community and neighbourhood policing, as well as the investigation functions in Toronto’s police divisions. Her remit also included the Service’s Operations Centre, 911 Communications, Traffic Services, the Parking Enforcement Unit and Court Services. The largest of these Commands is the Priority Response Command where she led approximately 3400 people and a budget of $380 million dollars. Deputy Coxon has championed many innovations and is known for her work on the Transformational Task Force and for implementing the inaugural Computer Cyber Crime (C3) Unit.
Shawna Coxon has a B.A.(Hons) in Psychology, a M.A. in Criminology, and her Ph.D. in Law. She completed the UK Executive Leaders Programme (ELP) in 2025. She has published and lectured extensively around the world. She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Guelph-Humber for 19 years.
Deputy Coxon has won numerous awards, including becoming an Officer in the Canadian Order of Merit, receiving the 2021 International Association of Chiefs of Police’s Harlin McEwen Law Enforcement Innovation Award and the 2022 Presidential Award from the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement. Despite these recognitions, she remains most proud of appreciation received from the victims and community members she has diligently worked for.
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