Police officer who abused pub staff and colleagues after drinking eight pints is given final warning

PC Adam Don appeared before a disciplinary panel at Houghton police station on Monday February 10 and was handed a final warning over his behaviour.

Chairman Rachel Mangenie said PC Dunn, who was off-duty, accepted he had been thrown out of the Cooper Rose in Sunderland city centre around 1.30am on July 7 for being abusive to staff after drinking eight pints of lager.

Officers on patrol spotted him being ‘abusive and aggressive’ to door staff and arrested him on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and common assault.

He continued to be abusive and demanded to be taken to Southwick Police Station, rather than Wallsend.

There was no further action on the common assault and PC Don accepted a fixed penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly.

Ms Mangenie said that PC Don being thrown out of the pub was a matter of concern in itself, and his behaviour towards the officers showed ‘a severe lack of judgement and awareness.’

“The presence of a police officer should be a calming influence for any member of the public and particularly a police officer,” she said.

“This behaviour was appalling. The officers were in a dreadful position, having to arrest a colleague.”

Statements of support were read to the hearing, including 19 from serving officers.

The hearing heard he apologised to the officers involved.

“PC Don is clearly an enthusiastic and and dedicated police officer,” said Ms Mangenie. “The panel is impressed that PC Don returned to work immediately after the incident.”

The panel had considered medical evidence and said it was ‘impressed with some of the steps he has taken to address various issues.’

The panel gave PC Don a final written warning which will last for 18 months.

Superintendent Steve Ammari, Head of Professional Standards at Northumbria Police, said: “We expect officers and staff to maintain the highest standards at all times and if anyone is found to have fallen below these we are committed to taking appropriate action.”