Ottawa cop demoted after impaired crash in unmarked vehicle

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An officer whose impaired driving crash on St. Patrick’s Day led to the writeoff of an unmarked Ottawa Police Service vehicle has been ordered demoted to second-class constable for 22 months.

The penalty for Const. Cory Chuchryk, in accord with a joint submission of the prosecution and defence counsel during the disciplinary process, was set out in a hearing officer’s decision dated Dec. 30, 2024 and later posted online.

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Chuchryk, who was off-duty at the time, was driving the unmarked police vehicle with another off-duty officer as passenger south on Woodroffe Avenue when it struck the back of a stationary truck at an intersection with Grenfell Crescent on March 17, 2024.

The Ford F-150 truck was stopped at the intersection, waiting for traffic to clear before turning onto Grenfell Crescent, when it was struck from behind. Its driver and another passenger were not injured.

While the truck’s driver and passenger called 911 and remained at the scene, Chuchryk drove away before on-duty officers arrived. He went home and parked the police sedan in his garage.

He did not respond when an investigating officer knocked at the door, nor did Chuchryk call his supervisor or anyone else to report the incident or damage to the OPS vehicle, as required.

The vehicle, with damage estimated at $10,000, was later deemed a total loss, the hearing decision said.

On April 4, Chuchryk was arrested and charged with a handful of criminal offences, including impaired driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He pleaded guilty and on June 11 was sentenced to 12 months probation, counselling or assessments for alcohol or substance abuse, a $5,000 fine and 12 months driving prohibition, and he was ordered to pay $230 to the truck driver and $5,000 to the Ottawa Police Service.

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A disciplinary hearing was held Nov. 13, at which time Chuchryk pleaded guilty to the police service charges.

“Two counts of discreditable conduct, one count of insubordination and one count of damage to clothing or equipment have been proven on clear and convincing evidence,” hearing officer Supt. Chris Rheaume wrote. “The joint submission on penalty has been of assistance in reaching a decision and I see no argument or sound reason to vary from the penalty agreed to by the parties.”

Following the demotion for 22 months, Chuchryk will be returned to the rank of first-class constable, Rheaume wrote, “on the basis of satisfactory work performance to be determined by the service.”

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