Ottawa police officer charged with impaired driving after Thanksgiving weekend incident
Const. Clay Berrea, 25, charged with operation while impaired and exceeding legal blood-alcohol limit. Officer reassigned to administrative duties.
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Const. Clay Berrea, 25, with the Ottawa Police Service, has been charged with operation while impaired and operation while having blood-alcohol concentration equal to or exceeding 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood. The charges were laid on October 10 and announced Friday.
The incident occurred off-duty during Thanksgiving weekend. Berrea is currently assigned to administrative duties and is not serving in front-line patrol capacity.
The Ottawa Police Service said in a statement that officers are held to a high standard of conduct both on duty and off, and "expects their actions to reflect the trust and values of the community we serve."
This is the third impaired-driving charge involving an Ottawa-area officer or driver in recent months. In July, an Ottawa constable was charged after an off-duty incident; in August, a driver was charged with impaired after crashing into a Beer Store.
The facts
What charges was Const. Clay Berrea laid with?
Const. Clay Berrea was charged with operation while impaired and operation while having blood-alcohol concentration equal to or exceeding 80 mg of alcohol in 100 mL of blood.
When were the charges against Berrea laid?
The charges were laid on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
What is Berrea's current role at the Ottawa Police Service?
Const. Clay Berrea is assigned to administrative duties and is not serving in front-line patrol capacity.
