A senior officer at Northamptonshire Police has been sacked after he sent inappropriate emails and made lewd comments to female members of staff.
The Chronicle & Echo understands that Inspector Daemon Johnson was this week dismissed for gross misconduct following a probe by the force’s professional standards department. The Chron also understands the investigation was launched after an inappropriate photograph was posted on a social networking site.
Mr Johnson was formerly a neighbourhood inspector in east Northampton with 25 years’ experience and recently worked in the force’s control room.
Superintendent Jan Meagher, head of professional standards, confirmed an officer had been sacked.
Supt Meagher said: “We can confirm that an officer appeared before a misconduct hearing in relation to allegations of inappropriate comments to female staff, misuse of the force email system and improper behaviour.
“The matters breached the standards of professional behaviour namely ‘discreditable conduct’ and ‘equality and diversity’. The panel decided that the most appropriate outcome was dismissal.
“We expect the highest standards from our officers and staff. We will take robust action in cases where we find the standard expected has not been upheld.
“As with all disciplinary hearings, every officer has a right to appeal.”
The officer is not the first in the UK to be sacked or have to resign because of Facebook indiscretions.
Last December, it was revealed at least two police officers had been sacked, seven resigned and 150 faced disciplinary action a fter posting inappropriate photos or comments on Facebook since 2007. In 2010, two special constables from Dorset resigned prior to disciplinary hearings over the “misuse” on Facebook.
One officer from Cheshire resigned in October 2010 after being accused of harassing a former partner on Facebook.
Earlier this year four Northamptonshire police officers were ‘banned’ from Twitter by Wootton Hall bosses for sending inappropriate messages.
The officers, who were among more than 40 police officers and staff who have been tweeting about their jobs over the past few months, were told to leave the website because they breached force rules.
It came after HMIC inspectors visited the force over this summer to look into how officers were using Twitter and later made recommendations.
At the time a force spokesman said: “We expect the highest standards from our officers and staff at all times and this is reflected in procedures regarding the use of social media across the force.”