A Kingston Police officer has been charged with impaired driving, leading to an immediate suspension from the local force. The Kingston Police confirmed on May 6, 2026, that Constable Chris Gobeil, a 27-year veteran of the service, was arrested and charged following an incident on April 26, 2026.
According to the police, the incident occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. near the intersection of Princess Street and Gardiners Road in Kingston, Ontario. Constable Gobeil was taken to police headquarters and later released with a future court date. Media Relations Officer Constable Anthony Colangeli confirmed that the officer has been suspended with pay while an internal investigation is underway.
This development follows new, stricter impaired driving penalties implemented by the province on January 1, 2026, which include enhanced look-back periods for police record checks and stricter licensing consequences. Gobeil, 53, has a prior history of alcohol-related incidents. He was charged in 2019 for assault and later for breaching his bail conditions by being intoxicated in public, with the case resolved in 2020. Those proceedings resulted in a discharge on the assault charge and a $5,000 fine for the bail breach.
The Kingston Police Service Board, a civilian oversight body, is responsible for the governance of the police service. As the current matter is before the courts and subject to an internal Professional Standards investigation, police officials have stated they will not provide further comment at this time.
