EDMONTON — In a decision called unprecedented in local police history, a sergeant has been demoted for discreditable conduct after drinking and driving, then denying it to a superior.

The demotion to constable for former sergeant Randy Goss is effective immediately and will remain in place for two years. The pay difference is equivalent to a $30,000 fine.

Goss was charged and convicted on two counts of discreditable conduct, but not for impaired driving. An RCMP expert testified despite having consumed 12 drinks in one evening, Goss would likely not have been over the legal .08 limit for driving.

The charges stem from an incident in November 2007. According to an agreed statement of facts, Goss and three other officers -- a detective and two constables -- were off duty when they gathered at Joey's Grill and Patio Lounge in Edmonton.

Goss arrived at 7:10 p.m. During the evening, he drank six pints of beer, four single-ounce rum-and-Cokes and two shooters. He left around midnight.

Goss admitted that before he left, staff at the lounge twice warned him they didn't think he was fit to drive home. A server offered to call a taxi and warned him that they would call police if he took his own vehicle.

He drove his truck home anyway. A server took down the licence plate and 911 operators got the call.

The licence plate number was broadcast over police radios at 12:43 a.m.

Staff Sgt. Ken Hykawy called Goss that night.

Hykawy said Goss denied he had even been at the lounge. Goss said he had been home all night.

At the disciplinary hearing, Goss called that version of the conversation inaccurate, but Supt. Mark Logar, the presiding officer, accepted Hykawy's version of events in his decision.

Goss stormed out of the packed disciplinary hearing room without a word after the decision was read.

He has been with the police service for 22 years and most recently had been serving in a supervisory capacity with the Disaster Emergency Operations and Planning Section.

He will have to be reassigned.

"We're stunned and disappointed," said police association president Sgt. Tony Simioni, calling the penalty unprecedented in Edmonton.

"Never in the history of this jurisdiction has someone been stripped from a promoted rank to a constable without a criminal conviction preceding it.

"This raises the bar to an unacceptable level and we have to examine our options to counter it."

Head of the professional standards division Insp. Mark Neufeld said a demotion matches the severity of punishment currently found on other Canadian police forces.

Discipline has been getting more serious in recent years, he said. "We're stepping into a new era of policing and the public has high expectations of police."

"This was a member with 22 years of service," Neufeld said.

"From what I heard today, this was more of an aberration in lack of judgment.

"For the overwhelming majority of his career he was a good, solid contributor."

estolte@edmontonjournal.com