Advocacy & Safety - Drunk - Hit & Run - Cop Charged

A veteran constable with the Toronto Police Service has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident and impaired driving after hitting a cyclist and fleeing the scene.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1165230332923

It'll be interesting to see what officer Thomas Lowe receives for punishment.

Note that the article says impaired driving, not drunk driving. It could be some other impairment other then drunk driving. Though an impairment of any kind is illegal while driving, even if it is from legally prescribed drugs.

i hope this marks the end of his career, at the very least.

i hope this marks the end of his career, at the very least.

He has 32 years of service. It's highly likely he'll retire rather than face Police Services Act charges in addition to the criminal charges he's facing.

yeah, that's what will probably happen.


i used to work with a couple of cops who we hired for security at an old job. i got to know them pretty well, i thought they were nice guys for the most part. anyway, about 5 years after i left the job i saw one of them on the news. turns out he beat some guy senseless while he was already handcuffed. there was a video tape of the event and it was shocking to see.

anyway, long story short - he was at retirement age, so he resigned and i'm not sure what kinda charges he was facing. what a stupid way to end a long career.

I must say I'm favourably impressed that the accident was investigated, seeing as how the cyclists apparently only had minor injuries. It's good to know that these things are being followed up on, rather than the "not serious, not investigated" thinking I have heard from elsewhere.

Note that the article says impaired driving, not drunk driving. It could be some other impairment other then drunk driving. Though an impairment of any kind is illegal while driving, even if it is from legally prescribed drugs.

In Canada, there is presently no law that allows police to test for impairment by drugs other than alcohol. Given that, it's unlikely his impairment was by a drug other than alcohol. The present Government has recently tabled legislation to address this:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/11/21/2432708-cp.html

The article notes that he faces two charges of impaired driving and a charge for failing to remain at the scene. This is normally how newspapers report these types of incidents. The actual charges he faces? You'd have to get copies of the court documents (or the newspapers could begin to accurately report what the charges are...). The charges [I]could be[I] for impaired operation of a motor vehicle, impaired operation causing bodily harm, exceeding a breathalyser, or failure to provide a sample. Normally the Crown will 'blanket' the accused with charges. The accused will usually plead guilty to one or two of the charges in exchange for the other charges being dropped or go to trial and contest all the charges. The interesting thing about this case is the accused is also a police constable. He will undoubtedly face charges under the Police Services Act. This is in addition to the criminal charges he faces. If he leaves the employ of the Toronto Police Service, these charges will not be brought forward.