Officer demoted after pleading guilty to discredible conduct

After pleading guilty to two counts of discredible conduct, Thunder Bay Police Service officer Jamie Maijala has been demoted from a first-class constable and is now a civilian member of the force.

Maijala was charged with impaired driving and public mischief relating to a false report of a single-vehicle collision on May 15, 2009. At 1 a.m., police responded to the crash at the intersection of Court Street and Fort William Road where a pickup truck had collided with a hydro pole.

No one was at the scene at the time. Police received a report shortly after the collision that the vehicle had been stolen. The alleged driver was located around 2 a.m.

In October 2009, Maijala pleaded guilty to the charges and of driving with more than 80 mg of alcohol and obstructing police. He was fined $1,200 and $800 respectively.

As of this week, Maijala has taken a civilian position within the police force.

"It’s been quite a lengthy process and it’s been very tough on him, so this is good for him to be able to move forward and get on with his life," said police spokesman Chris Adams.

After going through the criminal court, Maijala then faced the Police Service Act, which is very specific about how charges against officers are handled, Adams added.

"He obviously had to put some thought to it and he pleaded guilty and accepted the outcome of that hearing," he said. "Maijala is moving on. He’s put that portion of his life behind him."