Provincial Police say a a secondary investigation is underway after a veteran officer plead guilty to impaired driving. 18-year-veteran of the OPP, Constable William Lucia plead guilty in a Orillia court room in late October, to a charge of impaired driving. On Thursday, OPP confirmed to CTV News that Lucia remains suspended with pay while a non-criminal investigation into the matter is underway. “The OPP holds its officers to high standards of professionalism and accountability within a robust framework of oversight that includes the Special Investigations Unit, the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency, and the OPP’s Professional Standards Unit,” the OPP said in a statement to CTV News. “Police officers are subject to the same laws as all members of the public,” the OPP said. “Given the significant powers entrusted to them and their sworn duty to uphold the law, officers are held to a high standard of conduct.” The incident that resulted in 43-year-old Lucia being fined $2,000 and receiving a 12-month driving suspension dates back to August. Around 1 a.m. on Aug. 28, Lucia was stopped by other officers while driving off-duty in Oro-Medonte. At the time of his arrest, his blood alcohol concentration was the legal limit. OPP said the conduct of officers is set out by Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019. “As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot share details,” OPP said.
