A member of the London Police Service has been charged after being reported as a suspected impaired driver
A London Police Service officer has been charged after a citizen reported a suspected impaired driver in the city’s west end.
Police say a call came in around 12:20 a.m. on November 25th about a possible impaired driver near Oxford Street West and St. Andrews Street. Officers were given a description of the vehicle and the man behind the wheel, and the driver was arrested without incident in the city’s north end a short time later.
Const. Ryan C. Pocrnich, 47, of London, is charged with impaired operation of a conveyance and impaired exceed blood alcohol concentration. Police say he was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on January 7th.
At the time of his arrest, Pocrnich was already suspended with pay while awaiting a discipline hearing stemming from earlier misconduct allegations under the former Police Services Act. Under that previous legislation, officers could only be suspended without pay after being convicted and sentenced to jail.
While the newer Community Safety and Policing Act allows for broader suspension-without-pay provisions, police say section 210 of the Act does not permit such a suspension in relation to his current criminal charges.
The service says an internal conduct investigation will begin once all court proceedings are finished.
