Ex-cop fakes being ill to go to a wedding

Leanne Gould had holiday rejected

A former police constable has been found culpable of gross misconduct, following an accelerated misconduct hearing in December.

On 11 December, Acting Chief Constable Jim Colwell concluded that former Police Constable Leanne Gould had breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of Honesty and Integrity, and had she still been serving, she would have been dismissed without notice.

The hearing looked at allegations that former Police Constable Gould who was a patrol constable within Cornwall had reported a false sickness absence in order to attend a wedding having had her annual leave request declined.

She went on to maintain that she was sick in a number of messages to her line manager and she later admitted she had reported sick in order to attend the wedding. She admitted that her conduct was deliberate, misleading and dishonest.

Following the hearing it was concluded that the allegation were proven and that her behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.

Head of Professional Standards, Detective Superintendent Alexandra Doughty said: “The Force and the public expect all officers, staff and volunteers to carry out their roles to a high standard and to behave in an honest manner.

In this case, former Police Constable Leanne Gould’s actions have fallen below that.

“When joining the police service, you accept that we are a 24/7 organisation and sadly there are times when you are likely to miss out on special occasions due to the nature of our work. Under no circumstances should someone lie about their health and wellbeing in order to take part in a social occasion as this undermines the trust the Force places in that officer to behave with honesty and integrity.

“The former officer has been placed on the barred list so will no longer be able to hold a role in any police force within the UK.”