A police officer has been dismissed after an investigation found that he had sexually harassed a junior member of staff.
A misconduct hearing was held at Sussex Police headquarters on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 29 and 30) in front of a panel led by an Independent Legally Qualified Chair (LQC).
The hearing was told that a junior female member of staff known as PC A had alleged that she had been sexually harassed by Detective Sergeant Jason Hoadley, who was her supervisor.
The officer, 52, who was based at Eastbourne, had sent her inappropriate messages on What’s App and had shown her unwanted attention in the form of kissing and touching while they were off duty at team social occasions.
Once the allegations were made, the officer was moved away from the division and placed on restricted duties while an investigation took place. The matter was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) who directed a local investigation should take place.
DS Hoadley was alleged to have breached standards of professional behaviour in respect of Authority, Respect and Courtesy and Discreditable Conduct
The breaches were proven by the misconduct panel and it was determined that this amounted to gross misconduct. He was dismissed from the force and placed on the College of Policing Barred list which will prevent a return to policing.
Superintendent Petra Lazar, deputy head of Professional Standards said:
“Sussex Police expects the highest personal and professional standards of anyone who works for us and the actions of this officer in this case fell short of those standards.
“We are ensuring that all staff are aware of appropriate professional boundaries and have invested in a comprehensive programme of cultural change towards challenging, reporting and tackling unethical or unprofessional behaviour.
"Such behaviours have no place in Sussex Police and this has been reflected in the outcome of the hearing today."
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