Officer sacked after punching man and falling asleep at work

He and another Humberside Police officer, who was present but did not intervene, were dismissed at the hearing held behind closed doors last week.

The officer was found guilty of gross misconduct for punching the man after a scuffle broke out as officers were trying to search him.

On another occasion the same officer helped arrest a man at his home address, while wearing a a body worn camera, but later claimed the arrest happened outside, breaching standards of honesty, integrity, duties and responsibilities.

On a third occasion he went home without permission. The panel determined both incidents amounted to misconduct.

The second officer faced two allegations, which the panel determined to be gross misconduct.

The first was that the officer was present when his colleague punched the man, but did not challenge or report that excessive force had been used, breaching standards around challenging and reporting improper conduct.

On a separate occasion, he was asked to carry out cell watch on a vulnerable detainee in police custody, but twice fell asleep.

Chief Superintendent Judi Heaton, head of Professional Standards Branch, said it was important that those who let down the force “are held to account and are not able to further damage the reputation of the force and those who work here.”

The panel allowed an application by one of the officers for the hearing to be held in private as he suffers from a stress-related seizure disorder.

The chair’s panel said it would be prudent if a paramedic or fist-aider was present during the hearing.