Sussex police officer sacked for bullying colleague
He believed the other officer had reported him for speeding and using a patrol car - with lights and sirens - to pick-up friends
A Sussex Police officer's been dismissed for bullying a colleague he believed reported him for speeding to pick-up friends in a patrol car with blue lights and sirens on - traveling between Uckfield and Eastbourne.
47 year old PC Robert Potts was discharged from the force and banned from joining another during a disciplinary panel this week.
The hearing was told Potts believed a colleague had reported him to the Professional Standards Department over his conduct in July 2022 - so he then targeted them with derogatory and disrespectful comments, undermined them professionally and repeatedly singled them out for criticism.
Four allegations of bullying - amounting to gross misconduct - were upheld.
PC Potts was already on a final written warning over the initial incident, so the panel had no option but to dismiss him.
Detective Superintendent Andy Wolstenholme, Deputy Head of Force Professional Standards for Sussex Police said, "Policing is an incredibly challenging profession, and we ask much of our officers and staff in the discharge of their duties.
"We expect our staff to challenge where they see behaviours that are not appropriate, or are in breach of the standards, and it is entirely unacceptable that, having been rightly challenged, PC Potts victimised his colleague simply for doing what is expected, and making their role even more difficult than it already is.
"All staff are aware of the Standards of Professional Behaviour and the force remains committed to holding officers to account where they fall below the high standards the public rightly expect."