Ottawa police constable demoted following impaired driving crash in police vehicle

The sign outside Ottawa Police headquarters on Elgin St. is seen in winter. (CTV News Ottawa)

An Ottawa police constable has been demoted for 22 months in connection to an impaired driving crash while in an unmarked police vehicle on St. Patrick's Day last year.

Const. Cory Chuchryk pleaded guilty to two counts of discreditable conduct, one count of insubordination and one count of damage to clothing or equipment under the Police Services Act.

Last week, an Ottawa Police Service hearing officer ruled Chuchryk will be demoted from first-class constable to second-class constable for 22 months. The results of the discipline hearing were posted on the Ottawa Police Service's website earlier this week.

According to the agreed statement of facts, Chuchryk, who was off-duty, was driving southbound at a high rate of speed on Woodroffe Avenue in an unmarked police cruiser on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at approximately 9 p.m. when he collided with the back of a stopped truck at the intersection at Grenfall Crescent.

Chuchryk was driving with another off-duty officer at the time of the crash.

The two occupants of the pickup truck exited the vehicle and approached the unmarked police cruiser, and Chuchryk "reluctantly exited his vehicle," says the document. The officer provided his first name and address to the driver of the truck.

"The occupants of the pickup believed Const. Chuchryk to be under the influence of alcohol. The suspicion along with his unusual behaviour in response to the collision prompted the pickup driver to call 9-1-1," the document states.

The statement of facts says Chuchryk got back into the damaged vehicle and left the scene before on-duty officers arrived to investigate. The officer drove home and parked his vehicle in the garage.

Responding officers attended Chuchryk's home to investigate, but no one answered the door. The document says the responding officer left the home to visit the occupants of the pickup truck to gather more information.

"The responding officer then returned to the Chuchryk residence and looked into the garage again to note the license plate number. He also observed that there was significant damage to the sedan consistent with the particulars of the collision," the statement of facts state.

"The responding officer queried the license plate and address and identified a link with Const. Cory Chuchryk. He notified his supervisor that he suspected an OPS officer was involved in a hit-and-run collision."

The officer did not make "any effort that evening to call a supervisor or inform anyone about the incident or the damage to the OPS vehicle," the document says.

Damage to the police vehicle was estimated at $10,000, and it was deemed a total loss.

Chuchryk pleaded guilty to charges under the Police Services Act during a hearing in November.

Last June, Chuchryk pleaded guilty to a charge of operation while impaired under the Criminal Code and sentenced to 12 months probation and received a $5,000 fine and a 12-month driving prohibition. He was also ordered to pay $5,000 to the Ottawa Police Service and $230 to the owner of the pickup truck.

"Through the evidence presented, I am left with no doubt that the actions of Const. Chuchryk have strained the reputation of the Ottawa Police Service," Supt. Chris Rheaume, the hearing officer, said in a statement.

"As a result of the criminal conviction of operation while impaired, Const. Chuchryk breached public trust."

Chuchryk has been a member of the Ottawa Police Service since 2010.

Const. Chuchryk will return to the rank of first-class constable following the 22-month demotion, "on the basis of satisfactory work performance to be determined by the service," Rheaume wrote.