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Force has ‘lost faith’ in police chief Gargan
Police officers have broken rank to speak out against chief constable Nick Gargan returning to work after being found guilty of misconduct.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, has released an open letter, while senior service officers told ITV that staff were “scared to death” of the suspended boss returning to work.
Gargan was found guilty of eight charges of misconduct, after initially facing three misconduct charges and 10 gross misconduct charges over allegations he made inappropriate advances to female staff and breached data protection rules.
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He is due to begin work again next week after being suspended on full pay in May, 2013.
In an open letter to Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens, the police federation for Avon and Somerset said officers were being asked by people on a “daily basis” how the chief constable “can return to work in these circumstances”.
The letter added that the chief constable “must be beyond reproach” as “the person that sets the standard of professional behaviour and ethical conduct”.
Mountsevens will have the final say on what punishment Gargan faces at an official sanctions hearing when he returns to work next week.
Details of what Gargan has been found guilty of will only be made public after the sanctions hearing. Because he was not found guilty of gross misconduct he cannot be dismissed or demoted. Sanctions available include receiving a written warning or management advice.
A senior officer told ITV that he should resign to restore confidence in the force.
“They [members of staff] feel our good name is being dragged through the mire. If he is allowed back to work to command the highest office in our police force then it will be an absolute joke.”
He added: “How can anyone have faith, trust and respect in Nick Gargan after this?”
Gargan said in a statement issued through the Chief Police Officers Staff Association, he was “very much looking forward to returning to work” and “beginning the process of rebuilding confidence in the force”.
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