P.A. police officer charged with impaired driving

Jul 21, 2017 | 1:05 PM

A 13-year veteran of the Prince Albert Police Service is on paid leave after being charged with impaired driving.

Brett Lee Henry, 35, was charged after investigators followed up on a civilian tip they received March 3. According to a statement by Deputy Chief Jeff Rowden, police received a Report Impaired Driver (RID) tip at approximately 1:44 a.m. Although the vehicle and driver were not immediately located, Rowden said an investigation determined the driver was an off-duty member of the city police service.

Henry is currently on paid administrative leave while the matter is before the courts. He will make his first appearance in provincial court on Aug. 9. Although the police did not reveal Henry’s name in the release, paNOW was able to determine his identity through court records.

Rowden said the long delay between the incident and the charge was due to the lengthy investigation and consultations with Crown prosecutors. When asked if Henry could potentially return to work if convicted, Rowden said the matter will be decided through an internal process.

“We’ll follow the same process we follow any time that a member is investigated for a criminal offence,” Rowden said. “After the criminal portion is concluded then we’ll move to an internal review and we’ll see what that reveals.”

Rowden said the police have a good, trusting relationship with residents of the city, which he expects will continue despite the criminal allegations against Henry.

“We’ve got a strong relationship with our community and I have no doubt that that will continue,” he said. “We’ll follow the process and we’ll do what’s right.”

The allegations against Henry have not been tested before the courts.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews

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