Ottawa police constable demoted following impaired driving crash in police vehicle

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.

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.