Metropolitan police officer sacked for Facebook and text abuse of colleagues

Officer called one colleague a a ‘grass’ on Facebook and sent offensive texts to female colleague he dated previously A policeman has been dismissed without notice for posting offensive messages about a fellow officer on Facebook and harassing a female colleague. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said the 35-year-old Metropolitan y74police constable, who was based in Islington, north London, posted comments on Facebook on Friday referring to another officer as a “grass” and a “liar” and using deeply offensive language. The IPCC said the officer had also been involved in a brief, casual relationship with a colleague which ended acrimoniously in April last year. It said: “He sent the woman a series of abusive text messages and subjected her to verbal abuse and threats. “On one occasion, when both officers were off duty, a member of the public was so concerned about the male officer’s behaviour that he followed them off a bus and intervened when he saw the male officer smashing up a bin in the street. The male officer then verbally threatened the member of the public.” Both cases were investigated by the Metropolitan police’s professional standards directorate under the management of the IPCC. A report was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided there should be no criminal proceedings. The case went before a Metropolitan police gross misconduct hearing which concluded the officer was guilty of “discreditable conduct and failing to meet police conduct standards of respect and courtesy”. IPCC commissioner Rachel Cerfontyne said: “When I read what shocking things this police officer had written on Facebook about his colleague and the appalling way he had behaved, I felt completely dismayed. “He worked in a job that demanded trust and respect and yet acted in a way that resembled a nasty schoolyard bully. I am pleased that the Met’s misconduct panel clearly shared our view that this sort of person does not belong in the police service.” Metropolitan police Facebook London guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 23, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.