Two officers found guilty of Gross Misconduct in three day hearing

An officer has been dismissed and a second officer has received a Final Written Warning after both were found guilty of Gross Misconduct.

The hearing for PC Stephanie Eglon and another officer who cannot be identified, known as Officer B, commenced on Monday 4 December 2023 and concluded yesterday, Wednesday 6 December 2023.

On 19^th September 2022, PC Eglon and Officer B were called to Crathorne Crescent, Middlesbrough. Upon arrival, the officers found a man who had received significant burns to his body. Police officers noted a strong smell of petrol at the address and found the man attempting to use a lighter to light a ‘crack pipe’.

Evidence presented at the Gross Misconduct hearing showed that after initially taking the lighter from him, the man was permitted to use the cooker to light the ‘crack pipe’, despite the risk to him and other people at the address.

The evidence in relation to PC Stephanie Eglon, including evidence that she had failed to provide an accurate and honest account of events, resulted in her being found guilty of Gross Misconduct on all but one of the breaches of Standards of Professional Behaviour presented to the panel. She was dismissed from Cleveland Police with immediate effect and barred permanently from the police service.

Officer B was found guilty of Gross Misconduct for one, and Misconduct for another, breach of Standards of Professional Behaviour presented to the panel. This resulted in an outcome of a Final Written Warning which will last 3 years.

 Detective Inspector Chris Pringle Said: “Cleveland Police is not an organisation which accepts behaviour which falls short of not only the Standards of Professional behaviour by which we must abide, but also behaviour which poses a significant harm to others.

“Cleveland Police will continue to educate the workforce around the Standards of Professional Behaviour and investigate those who do not meet the required standard. We do this to ensure we deliver a service to the communities of Teesside which is professional, safe, and with the highest levels of integrity.  

“Any officer or member of staff who does not uphold the high standards of behaviour rightly expected of all of us, should expect to face robust action”.