David Boothby

David Boothby (born 1944) was last Chief of Police of the Metro Toronto Police 1995–1997, and first Chief of the Toronto Police Service, from 1998 to 2000.

Boothby was born in Keswick, Ontario. He joined the then Metro Toronto Police in 1964 as a beat officer and became a homicide detective in 1978.

Prior to becoming Police Chief Boothby was the unit commander or superintendent of 52 Division, the division that covered much of the downtown business and residential area from Spadina to Jarvis, the Lake to south of Summerhill. The gay community's village of Church and Wellesley was within the Division's boundaries. He was instrumental in beginning a dialogue between the lesbian and gay communities and the police force; a force that had a violent history in dealing with the gay and lesbian community especially after the bathhouse raids of 5 February 1981. He established a Church/Wellesley footpatrol and a series of sensitivity training sessions for his patrol staff. Community policing was an integral part of his approach to the police service.

Boothby's rise to the chief's post was seen as a change from the style of William J. McCormack, but he had a difficult time with the Toronto Police union president Craig Bromell. His management style was seen by some as soft and contributed to his departure from the force.

He was succeeded by Julian Fantino.

Since 2000, Boothby has been involved in various charities and local associations:

• member of the Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows Board of Directors
• Consultant, Giesecke & Devrient Card Security
• Task Force Member for the Ministry of Public Safety and Security Task Force on Reform and Correctional Services
• Chair of Jake's House for Children with Autism Board of Directors
• President of the West Side Pine Lake Cottagers Association