London Police officer demoted after internal review of July crash involving sobriety testing

A London Police Department officer has been demoted after an internal review concluded the officer permitted a driver to leave the scene of a July collision without conducting a sobriety test, according to a report from LEX18 published on Aug. 19, 2026.

The report says the demotion followed the department’s assessment of what officers did at the scene and whether required procedures were followed in connection with the driver’s departure from the crash location.

LEX18 reported that the officer’s actions meant the driver was not given a sobriety test at the scene, a step that can be used by law enforcement in cases involving possible impairment following a crash. The report does not indicate in the packet how investigators characterized the underlying cause of the collision or whether additional testing occurred after the scene was left.

The department’s decision, as described by LEX18, centers on accountability for scene management and public safety obligations after a crash. Demotion is typically a personnel action that reflects a finding of misconduct or a failure to meet department expectations, but the report does not provide the specific policy citation, disciplinary standard, or timeline beyond the fact that the incident occurred in July.

Following the July collision, the driver’s ability to leave without a sobriety test became part of the department’s review, and LEX18 said the officer ultimately faced discipline. The report does not detail whether the driver was later located, whether the department pursued any follow-up enforcement, or whether any charges were filed as a result.

The demotion raises questions for residents about how promptly and consistently officers carry out sobriety screening steps at crash scenes, particularly when impairment is possible. It also highlights the role of internal investigations in ensuring that traffic-stop and crash-scene procedures are followed, and that officers who do not comply can face personnel consequences.

The London Police Department’s disciplinary process, including any appeal rights and the exact duration or terms of the demotion, was not fully described in the information provided to this draft. The department, according to the report framing, is taking action based on its review of the July incident, and more details may be clarified as the disciplinary record or any related court proceedings, if they exist, become public.