Winnipeg police release name of off-duty officer charged with impaired driving

WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg police officer is facing impaired driving charges as well as unsafe storage of a firearm.

The officer was off-duty when he was arrested after a vehicle crashed into a fence on Sunday.

Michael Richard Hawley, who is 49, has been charged with care and control of a motor vehicle while impaired and refusing a breathalyzer.

Hawley is also charged with unsafe storage of a firearm and unsafe storage of a magazine.

He has been place on administrative leave.

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A fatal hit-and-run last month led to another officer, Const. Justin Holz, being charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving causing death.

Winnipeg police say since 2005, 12 officers have charged with impaired-driving related offences. They say in the same period, police have laid more than 6,500 similar charges.

The 12 includes Holz and Hawley, but not an officer arrested on Nov. 20 by the RCMP in the Headingley area because he has not yet been charged.

Police also gave the names of two other members currently facing impaired-driving related charges: Jason Garrett, a 28-year member, was arrested by the RCMP and charged February and Andrew Tighe, a 23-year member, was charged in June. Police gave no other details about these cases.

Police say the Independent Investigations Unit of Manitoba was notified in each case.

A Manitoba RCMP officer is also facing impaired-related charges after an alleged off-duty incident in his own vehicle this past summer near Winnipeg.

Mounties stopped a vehicle on the evening of Sept. 1 after reports of someone driving erratically on a highway near Birds Hill Provincial Park.

Police say once outside the vehicle, the driver showed signs of impairment and was arrested and taken to the East St. Paul detachment where he refused to provide a breath sample.

An investigation led to charges of impaired driving and refusal to provide a breath sample being laid on Sept. 29.

Cpl. Scott Hanson, a 17-year member of the RCMP, has been placed on administrative duties.

The Canadian Press