PC sacked over lost bullet at Buckingham Palace
Discussion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce89jg585gno
Not sure if gross misconduct is entirely fair here - but thats just my view
Not sure if gross misconduct is entirely fair here - but thats just my view
kING LIE!He left a bullet laying unaccounted for on the ground? Knowingly.
The fact that that you have to declare no live rounds in your possession yet he couldn't declare that with confidence as it could also conceivably be snagged in his kit etc. But knew where it could be
The fact that that you have to declare no live rounds in your possession yet he couldn't declare that with confidence as it could also conceivably be snagged in his kit etc. But knew where it could be
Edited by Hugo Stiglitz v2 on Tuesday 19th November 06:24
Best bit of advice I was ever given on joining the police...
Go honest early.
I've had several things happen to me that were less than ideal but by being honest and immediately doing what's expected I've never had any issues as a result. Including losing a round on a job (my mag also fell out at a full run not in a posh garden I might add...) but I flagged it and all the correct procedures were followed and it was located within an hour....
If this guy had told the truth immediately, they could have gone back and found the round and that would have been it, maybe with a cake fine / suitable ribbing.
Depending on what weapon he dropped the mag from it's not always user error so he's an idiot for trying to cover it up. Though if challenged 3 times about it and lied 3 times, there's not much else other than gross misconduct.
But dismissal seems overly harsh.
Go honest early.
I've had several things happen to me that were less than ideal but by being honest and immediately doing what's expected I've never had any issues as a result. Including losing a round on a job (my mag also fell out at a full run not in a posh garden I might add...) but I flagged it and all the correct procedures were followed and it was located within an hour....
If this guy had told the truth immediately, they could have gone back and found the round and that would have been it, maybe with a cake fine / suitable ribbing.
Depending on what weapon he dropped the mag from it's not always user error so he's an idiot for trying to cover it up. Though if challenged 3 times about it and lied 3 times, there's not much else other than gross misconduct.
But dismissal seems overly harsh.
mac96 said:
Seems harsh to me, given that he admitted what had happened of his own accord, after initially hiding it.
If he had just continued to lie would the bullet have been found, or would he have got away with it?
It's not harsh when a police officer lies to cover up his own mistake.If he had just continued to lie would the bullet have been found, or would he have got away with it?
98elise said:
mac96 said:
Seems harsh to me, given that he admitted what had happened of his own accord, after initially hiding it.
If he had just continued to lie would the bullet have been found, or would he have got away with it?
It's not harsh when a police officer lies to cover up his own mistake.If he had just continued to lie would the bullet have been found, or would he have got away with it?
As posted above, it was a bullet, not a landmine.
mac96 said:
Yes he lied, but then he appears to have told the truth of his own accord which should mitigate the situation. Or where is the incentive to confess? Of course we do not know what would have happened if he had not confessed.
As posted above, it was a bullet, not a landmine.
The incentive to confess = not to lie in the first place.As posted above, it was a bullet, not a landmine.
A spare mag dropping from a pocket or pouch and round dislodging… okay, can happen.
Mag from (likely) handgun coming out whilst holstered… odd. Unless deliberately fiddling with it.
As soon as round realised to be missing, say what happened, put in process a check of the area immediately.
As soon as you’ve lied about it, dishonesty factor comes into play. Sacked for lies not the initial act.
Mag from (likely) handgun coming out whilst holstered… odd. Unless deliberately fiddling with it.
As soon as round realised to be missing, say what happened, put in process a check of the area immediately.
As soon as you’ve lied about it, dishonesty factor comes into play. Sacked for lies not the initial act.
LM240 said:
A spare mag dropping from a pocket or pouch and round dislodging… okay, can happen.
Mag from (likely) handgun coming out whilst holstered… odd. Unless deliberately fiddling with it.
....
The story reads like he was messing around with the gun while wandering around the grounds, so maybe that's a serious enough infraction to not want to admit it?Mag from (likely) handgun coming out whilst holstered… odd. Unless deliberately fiddling with it.
....
I've always been honest.
For one thing, it's easier in the long run because you don't have to try and remember what lies you've told to whom. It's also less mental effort as you don't have to invent any lies in the first place.
For another thing, people will always find out eventually that you are a liar and will never trust a word you say. Which leads to this sort of situation.
For one thing, it's easier in the long run because you don't have to try and remember what lies you've told to whom. It's also less mental effort as you don't have to invent any lies in the first place.
For another thing, people will always find out eventually that you are a liar and will never trust a word you say. Which leads to this sort of situation.
mac96 said:
Yes he lied, but then he appears to have told the truth of his own accord which should mitigate the situation. Or where is the incentive to confess? Of course we do not know what would have happened if he had not confessed.
As posted above, it was a bullet, not a landmine.
He told the truth 8 days after lying, after causing an entire inventory to have been taken of every mag issued wasting countless hours and putting others needlessly under suspicion, once he'd gone back and found the round. What he should have done is own up at the start so the search could have been done in the right area. As posted above, it was a bullet, not a landmine.
He was in one of the most trusted positions imaginable there's not really any room for that amount of dishonesty.
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