The Winnipeg Police Service says a 911 call reporting a man in medical distress led them to discover one of their own impaired and behind the wheel.

Mid-day Tuesday, the WPS received a report of a man potentially in medical distress inside of a running vehicle. Responding to the Check Wellbeing call, officers arrived at 11:15 a.m. to the rear of a home in the 500 block of McMeans Avenue East.

Police determined he was exhibiting signs of impairment, subsequently placing him under arrest. During this time, authorities learnt the man was an off-duty Winnipeg Police Service officer who had been employed with the service for more than five years.

The WPS says the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has been notified and is taking a monitoring role in the incident. The Winnipeg Police Service Professional Standards Unit led the investigation.

The 29-year-old is being charged with Operation of a Conveyance While Impaired. He is now released from custody and has an Appearance Notice.