Former Regina police officer fined for driving while prohibited

A former Regina police officer has been fined $300 after pleading guilty to one count of driving while prohibited.

Scott Shane Ash, 39, initially was charged with six counts of that offence in February of 2022. During his appearance Thursday in Regina Provincial Court, the Crown stayed five of the counts.

Ash also was handed a $90 surcharge, for a total of $390. It has to be paid within three months.

Ash, a constable with 12 years of service with the Regina Police Service, was charged in February of last year after an investigation by police in consultation with the Crown. When the charges were laid, it was said they were related only to times when Ash was driving a police vehicle.

At the time, Chief Evan Bray ordered Ash be relieved of duty for 30 days. He is no longer working for the police service in any capacity.

He also was to be the subject of an administrative investigation conducted by the Professional Standards Unit of the Regina Police Service after the criminal matter was complete.

According to a summary provided by police in February of last year, on Aug. 19, 2021, an RPS vehicle equipped with an Automated Licence Plate Reader gave off an alarm to signal a suspended driver when it passed a parked vehicle. That later was identified as Ash’s personal vehicle.

“The investigation that followed confirmed that Ash was a prohibited driver and alleges Ash operated police vehicles as a Regina Police Service constable on at least six occasions between July 14, 2021 and August 26, 2021,” the police summary said.

“The Regina Police Service was not aware Ash’s licence was suspended on July 14, 2021 due to unpaid fines.”

The police investigation showed Ash was driving to work and occasionally driving during his shifts. There also were times when he was riding with a partner who was driving the police vehicle.

The investigation also determined that Ash was only allowed to operate a vehicle with an ignition interlock device, which was ordered after he pleaded guilty to an impaired driving charge from August of 2019.

On Aug. 21 of that year, police responded to a crash on Lewvan Drive at Harbour Landing Drive. No one was hurt in the crash, but Ash subsequently was charged.

Two months later, Ash pleaded guilty to driving while over .08 and received a $3,000 fine and a one-year driving ban.