Sussex Police Officer Who 'Pinged Ruler On Buttocks' Of Female Colleague Gets Written Warning

A Sussex police officer has been given a final written warning after being accused of behaviour deemed as 'sexualised'.

A virtual misconduct hearing made the decision today (Tuesday 24) after agreeing the officer had committed gross misconduct, which is punishable by dismissal.

It's after Detective Sergeant Paul Elrick, based in Hastings, allegedly sent Facebook messages to a female colleague deemed inappropriate and unwanted on March 30 (2020).

On June 16 (2020), Mr. Elrick allegedly said the same colleague was 'sexy' and 'looked and smelt gorgeous' which was deemed inappropriate and unwanted.

It was also alleged that a ruler was 'pinged across her buttocks', but DS Paul Elrick told the panel he couldn't recollect if it was a ruler or an elastic band.

Later that day, the 48-year-old reportedly squeezed the shoulders of the same colleague, known as Pc X, and tickled her.

DS Paul Elrick, who's been in the force for 24 years, said:

"I have blundered in using this language that has caused her upset, and I deeply regret it.

"The messages were sent in a sense of humour to lighten the situation.

"My sense of humour has clearly, clearly, missed the mark, and in doing so I have let myself down and I have let the organisation down, and I have certainly let the code of ethics down."

A panel heard today that the behaviour was reported by a third party on behalf of Pc X. 

The Facebook messages in question were received while Pc X was recovering from a medical procedure.

She said:

"Those messages were sent in capacity as a friend, they were sent within the safety of our friendship, which is a 20 year friendship.

"They were not sent with any intention to be rude or crass, they were sent with awkward, good intent."

The panel heard DS Paul Elrick admit the language he used was 'crass and immature', the pair had 'always got on well' and spoke to each other at ease. 

When questioned about squeezing his colleague's shoulders, tickling her and 'pinging a ruler' across her buttocks, he said:

"There was nothing going through my mind, there was certainly no sexualised behaviour.

"It was again because we’d known each other for so long, the lines were blurred between my professional responsibility and school boy behaviour."

Pc X again said the comments were made within the safety of their friendship.

She added:

"They were also within the safety of our friendship.

"We’ve known each other 20 years, Paul is a good friend and a good sergeant.

"As far as I was concerned, it was dealt with at the time."

When asked if she'd have difficulties working with DS Elrick in the future she replied with:

"Absolutely not, it was a one-off. I'd work with him again tomorrow."

Mr. Robert Talalay, who was representing the police force, advised the panel before they adjourned to discuss an outcome, namely whether DS Paul Elrick committed misconduct or gross misconduct.

Mr. Talalay said:

"Irrespective of what Pc X now might wish, you're not bound by that.

"Your role is to assess objectively whether the sergeant's conduct is so serious that dismissal would be appropriate."

The panel decided that the Detective Sergeant's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and proceeded to assess the appropriate sanction, with Mr. Talalay advising dismissal.

The panel proceeded to consider all available outcomes and settled with a final written warning.

Full reasoning will be issued in writing by the panel.