OPP officer charged with impaired driving while on duty, suspended with pay
Southern Georgian Bay OPP charged a serving officer with impaired operation on Jan. 15. The officer faces alcohol-related charges and has been suspended with pay pending internal and criminal probes.
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By Torontoer Staff
Southern Georgian Bay OPP have charged a serving Ontario Provincial Police officer with impaired operation while on duty. The investigation was opened on Thursday, January 15.
A 39-year-old man, a member of the OPP, faces two Criminal Code charges: operation while impaired by alcohol and operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus. He has been suspended with pay and will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.
What the force says
Southern Georgian Bay OPP said the matter began with an impaired operation investigation on January 15. The force confirmed charges were laid following that investigation and that the accused has been suspended with pay under the Community Safety and Policing Act while an internal review proceeds.
The charges and legal framework
The two charges are laid under section 320.14(1) of the Criminal Code: one alleging operation while impaired by alcohol, and the other alleging operation with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Those are criminal offences and, if proven, can result in criminal penalties, driving prohibitions and a lasting criminal record.
- Operation while impaired, Criminal Code section 320.14(1)(a), alleging impairment by alcohol
- Operation while impaired, Criminal Code section 320.14(1)(b), alleging blood alcohol concentration of 80 plus
Suspension and the internal review process
Under the Community Safety and Policing Act, police services can suspend members with pay while allegations are investigated. The OPP Professional Standards Unit is conducting an internal investigation that is separate from the criminal process. That review will assess whether the officer breached service policies or professional standards and can lead to disciplinary measures regardless of the criminal outcome.
Police have not released the officer’s name. The accused is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date, where the criminal process will continue.
Why the case matters
Cases involving on-duty officers attract public attention because they touch on accountability and trust in policing. When an officer is charged with a criminal offence, communities and police services typically expect both a transparent criminal process and an internal review to determine whether professional standards were breached.
Details about evidence, court dates and the internal findings will emerge as the matter proceeds through court and through the OPP’s Professional Standards Unit. For now, the OPP has confirmed only the date the investigation began, the charges and the suspension with pay.
What to watch next
- The accused’s upcoming appearance in the Ontario Court of Justice, where charges will be addressed
- Updates from Southern Georgian Bay OPP or the OPP Professional Standards Unit about the internal review
- Any public records or court filings that provide further detail on the allegations and evidence
This matter remains before the courts and under internal review. Further information will be released as proceedings and inquiries progress.
OPPpolicingpublic safetylawSouthern Georgian Bay
