Ottawa·NewCrown prosecutors have withdrawn a criminal charge against Const. Richard Lemay, who was demoted in September for picking up a woman and having sex with her while on duty 17 years ago. Richard Lemay was demoted for incident 17 years agoDavid Fraser · CBC News · Posted: Nov 27, 2025 1:25 PM EST | Last Updated: 3 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Const. Richard Lemay has been cleared to return to active duty, but has not returned yet. When he does, he will be demoted to second-class constable for one year. (Ottawa Police Service/X)Crown prosecutors have withdrawn a criminal charge against an Ottawa police constable who was demoted in September for picking up a woman and having sex with her while on duty 17 years ago.Const. Richard Lemay was charged with sexual assault after the woman filed a private prosecution in July. Private prosecutions can be launched by anyone who believes there are reasonable and probable grounds that someone has committed a crime.Crown lawyers in Toronto reviewed the matter to avoid potential conflict of interest. Court records show an in-camera hearing was held before a justice of the peace in Ottawa on Sept. 26. Instead of going to trial, prosecutors decided Thursday not to move forward with the charge. According to Lemay’s lawyers, he co-operated with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario’s civilian police oversight agency. The SIU also chose not to lay charges in the matter last year. Lemay has maintained his innocence since the complaint was made against him. In a statement, defence lawyers James Foord and Tony Paciocco said it was “disappointing” that the private prosecution had made it to court in the first place. They said Lemay is “relieved” that the Crown made the “right decision” by withdrawing the charge during his first court appearance on the matter. Demoted to 2nd-class constableIn an earlier police disciplinary proceeding, Lemay pleaded guilty in July to one count each of discreditable conduct, neglect of duty and insubordination.He admitted to being in uniform and on duty when he picked up the woman in a marked cruiser to drive her home, then entered her residence and had sex with her.He admitted he had stopped working without cause, and had failed to secure his firearm and other use-of-force tools while he was inside the woman’s home. On Sept. 8, the hearing officer sentenced Lemay to a one-year demotion from first-class constable to second-class constable, to begin upon his return to work.Lemay was suspended with pay from Feb. 5, 2024, to Jan. 17, 2025. He has been cleared to return to active duty but hasn’t returned yet.ABOUT THE AUTHORDavid Fraser is an Ottawa-based journalist for CBC News who previously reported in Alberta and Saskatchewan.With files from Kristy Nease
Charge withdrawn against Ottawa police officer who had sex while on duty
