Officer disciplined for ‘lashing out’ at Mountie

An off-duty Edmonton police officer who grabbed an RCMP sergeant by the throat during her arrest for impaired driving must write a letter of apology, a police disciplinary officer ruled.

Edmonton police Const. Carrie Dreger will also be suspended for 40 hours without pay once she returns to work for the city police, said a July 24 professional conduct ruling.

“An assault like this differs from most of the assaults I see before me,” wrote presiding officer and retired RCMP chief superintendent Fred Kamins in his decision. “It was not in the line of duty. It was not a misjudgment or misapplication of force during an arrest. Pure and simple, it was Constable Dreger lashing out.

“Unacceptable? Without doubt. Reason for dismissal? Not at all, under the circumstances.”

According to the written decision, Dreger admitted to two charges of discreditable conduct for her actions on the morning of March 25, 2018, in Sherwood Park. When Dreger was off duty, a passerby found Dreger passed out in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle that was improperly parked. Two RCMP officers arrived and found her disoriented, glossy-eyed and unable to speak coherently or comply with simple directions.

When an RCMP officer asked for Dreger’s licence and registration, she reached into the back seat for a bottle of wine. An open bottle of vodka, one-third full, was also in the back seat. She provided two breath samples, both of which were more than three times the legal driving limit for blood alcohol.

At the RCMP detachment, Dreger became “argumentative” about surrendering her cellphone, the decision said. After she tried to grab it back, a sergeant intervened, and took the phone out of her hand. She grabbed him by the throat and let go only when he said she would face a charge of assaulting a police officer.

Dreger later pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of impaired care and control of a vehicle with a blood-alcohol level higher than 0.08 per cent. She received a sentence of 15 months probation, a one-year driving ban and a $100 victim surcharge.

Since her arrest, Dreger has participated in addictions treatment, therapy and peer group programs, the decision said. She accepted responsibility for her actions and apologized to Edmonton police for her conduct.

The 13-year officer has been on long-term disability since the incident.