A Merseyside Police officer claimed "I swear to you I haven't done anything" when confronted after inhaling balloons while her former girlfriend sniffed "cocaine".
Former Constable Ellie Butlin was viewed on CCTV parked at Broughton Retail Park at around 8.30pm on August 6 2023. The officer, who was off duty at the time, was with her former girlfriend who was caught on CCTV snorting a white powder, believed to be cocaine, off the back of her hand.
The ex-girlfriend was then observed handing two balloons to Constable Butlin, who put them in her mouth. The CCTV then showed the balloons inflating and deflating as she inhaled gas from the inside. Constable Butlin and her former partner were approached by a police officer who questioned them about what they were doing in the car park.
READ MORE: Man asked step-dad 'are you alright?' before stabbing him to death in his own bedroom
READ MORE: Officer caught on CCTV inhaling balloon while girlfriend sniffed 'cocaine'
But instead of coming clean and admitting what was happening. Constable Butlin repeatedly lied to the officer, telling him "I swear to you I haven't done anything". At an accelerated misconduct hearing held last week, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "The former officer's actions and statements were deliberate steps to cover up what happened in the car."
The hearing, held at Merseyside Police HQ in Rose Hill on Cazneau Street, Everton, heard the then serving officer was approached by North Wales Police Constable Hughes, who questioned them about what they were doing in the car park. Constable Hughes asked the now former Constable Butlin if she was the owner of the car, to which she replied "I am".
The officer questioned the women about what they were doing, to which the unnamed former partner responded "they're mine, they're just balloons, they're just whips". Constable Hughes asked Constable Butlin what she was doing, with her replying "no nothing, honestly". Constable Butlin was told she had been observed on CCTV inhaling from a balloon.
However, she continued to deny her involvement and told the officer "I honestly, I swear to you I haven't done anything" and "I haven't done anything". She was interviewed on October 18 last year where she admitted the allegations and was told her failure to challenge or report the incident brought the police force into disrepute.
Constable Butlin was told: "In that witnessing a person taking what you believe to be an illegal drug and failing in any way to challenge that behaviour or otherwise report it, you have acted in a way that has the propensity to bring the police service into disrepute.
"In that in responding to a police officer acting in the execution of his duty, you did not provide a full account and your responses 'no nothing, honestly,' 'I honestly, I swear to you I haven't done anything, honestly' and 'I haven't done anything' were untruthful and therefore dishonest. In any event your response to the officer as a whole lacked integrity as you did not provide a whole account of your actions to the officer."
Detective Superintendent Cheryl Rhodes, who told the hearing the allegations reached the threshold for gross misconduct, said "Butlin should have known better" and due to her actions she was "unsuitable to be an officer". She told the hearing: "The evidence reflects badly on Butlin and could reflect badly on the entire police force, particularly if she would remain in her role."
She added: "Her actions plainly amount to gross misconduct. Constable Butlin was contacted ahead of the hearing and asked if she accepted her actions amounted to gross misconduct. The hearing heard she did not respond and instead handed in her resignation.
Also present at the hearing was Inspector Paula Oldham, her Merseyside Police Federation representative. However, Inspector Oldham told the hearing there would be no representation from Constable Butlin.
Chief Constable Kennedy determined that Constable Butlin had "turned a blind eye to drug use and lied about it". She said: "Her "culpability was high as she didn't take positive action and allowed it to happen in front of her.
"She can't blame anyone else, she was the one who lied. She lied to four questions from Constable Hughes. The former officer's actions and statements were deliberate steps to cover up what happened in the car."
Chief Constable Kennedy added: "The community of Merseyside should have trust and confidence that the officers who uphold the law also abide to the law. I have been very clear that public trust is my number one priority and the actions of the officer erodes that confidence."
The Chief Constable found the officer's actions did amount to gross misconduct and said she would have been immediately dismissed from the police force without notice. However, the now former Constable Butlin resigned before she was sacked.
Following the hearing, Detective Superintendent Rhodes said: "Police officers are expected to behave in an exemplary manner at all times, whether on or off duty, and when they witness illegal activity they are duty bound to report it.
“When they fail in their duties or choose to act in a manner which could bring the police service into disrepute then it is only right that action is taken.
“The public rightly expect those who work for Merseyside Police to be beyond reproach, and I hope that by showing we are taking positive action shows how seriously we take matters such as this.
“I also hope that the actions on one person does not undo the excellent work and commitment show by the vast majority of our officers and staff who work to serve and protect the communities of Merseyside every day.”
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmxpdmVycG9vbGVjaG8uY28udWsvbmV3cy9saXZlcnBvb2wtbmV3cy9vZmZpY2Vycy1mb3VyLXdvcmQtbGllLWFmdGVyLTI4NzY2ODc50gFdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZXJwb29sZWNoby5jby51ay9uZXdzL2xpdmVycG9vbC1uZXdzL29mZmljZXJzLWZvdXItd29yZC1saWUtYWZ0ZXItMjg3NjY4NzkuYW1w?oc=5
2024-03-11 07:03:23Z
CBMiWWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmxpdmVycG9vbGVjaG8uY28udWsvbmV3cy9saXZlcnBvb2wtbmV3cy9vZmZpY2Vycy1mb3VyLXdvcmQtbGllLWFmdGVyLTI4NzY2ODc50gFdaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl2ZXJwb29sZWNoby5jby51ay9uZXdzL2xpdmVycG9vbC1uZXdzL29mZmljZXJzLWZvdXItd29yZC1saWUtYWZ0ZXItMjg3NjY4NzkuYW1w
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar