The Avon & Somerset Police sergeant has been barred
(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
A police sergeant who took a second job for two years despite being refused permission has been sacked without notice.
Sgt Christopher Tearle, who worked for Avon & Somerset Police for nearly two decades, was found to have committed gross misconduct at a hearing on Friday, June 13.
The 45-year-old dad-of-two, who is based in Radstock, will also be placed on a barred list preventing him from policing and law enforcement again.
He was suspended on an unrelated matter in March 2023 and put in a request to take a paid job at an engineering company the following month.
When this was refused, he appealed to the chief constable who dismissed it in May 2023 and ordered him not to take the work, the misconduct hearing at force headquarters in Portishead was told.
But he started at the firm, which cannot be named for legal reasons, in June that year anyway and did not inform the constabulary, and he is still employed there.
Sgt Tearle admitted misconduct but denied gross misconduct.
Barrister Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the force, told the hearing that Chief Constable Sarah Crew’s appeal decision indicated that she was not unsympathetic and suggested other ways to alleviate the impact of being suspended.
But Mr Ley-Morgan said: “The officer ignored the order to be treated as a lawful order and took paid employment from June 6, 2023, working effectively full time, so he has been drawing two salaries for over two years.
“He was taking public money for work he was not doing while being paid a full-time job.
“He knew what he was doing was wrong.”
The barrister said Sgt Tearle should have either stopped working at the business or resigned as a police officer.
He said it was more serious because of his supervisory role as a sergeant who should have set an example, so the only sanction should be dismissal without notice.
According to Mr Ley-Morgan, the officer said in response to the investigation: “I fully accept disregarding the orders of the chief constable.
“Regrettably I found myself in a position where I had to go against the chief constable’s position.”
Mr Ley-Morgan said: “He has worked for [the company] when he has been expressly instructed not to do so.
“He has undermined public confidence in the police service.
“The officer has said he knowingly and intentionally breached that order because he had no choice.
“He has provided no proof whatsoever that he needed a second job.”
Barrister Julian King, representing Sgt Tearle, said: “The officer has not sought to hide behind the fact of that employment.
“He needed to take separate work for his wellbeing.
“He has a previously unblemished record and career.”
Mr King asked the sanction to be a final written warning and read out character references from the officer’s colleagues, one of whom described him as an ‘inspirational figure’.
Panel chair Craig Holden ruled that Sgt Tearle did not act dishonestly but did act without integrity and found gross misconduct proved.
Mr Holden said: “The officer chose to disobey a direct order from the most senior police officer in the force.
“He is in paid employment while being a fully paid police officer.”
Sgt Teale chose not to give evidence at the hearing.
Head of Avon & Somerset’s professional standards department Superintendent Larisa Hunt said afterwards: “There is a requirement that all who work within policing report any business interest they may have.
“This is so it can be reviewed to ensure it does not conflict with police work and responsibilities.
“The public rightly expects officers to follow the necessary policies in place.
“Sgt Tearle knowingly chose to ignore the fact his business interest application had been refused.
“He appealed that decision and knew that had been rejected too.
“The public can only have confidence in the police officers who serve them if they demonstrate integrity in their actions.
“Sgt Tearle clearly failed to demonstrate this and will not be allowed to work in policing again.”
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