Cop who exposed himself at festive bash while wearing Christmas jumper and Santa hat is sacked
A COP who exposed himself at a festive bash while wearing a Christmas jumper and a Santa hat has been sacked.
PC Daniel Burke was seen on CCTV flashing his privates three times in a pub on a night out with colleagues.
He even pretended to put his genitals in a pool table pocket in front of other customers.
At one stage, two junior officers warned him about his behaviour at the Boathouse pub in Wylam, near Newcastle.
But word got back to bosses at Northumbria Police and he was charged with gross misconduct.
PC Burke, a former RAF officer with three tours in Afghanistan, had been acting sergeant for seven months before the incident.
His lawyer Ben Tighe told the hearing: “It’s obvious that what was done was a joke. Everybody thought he was hilarious. There was no actual harm caused to anybody.”
But the panel ruled it was gross misconduct and he was fired.
The force’s head of Professional Standards Department, Detective Superintendent Donna Rose, said: “When someone falls below the standards expected and which they made a commitment to uphold we will take appropriate action.
“The overwhelming majority of officers, staff and volunteers at Northumbria Police come to work to make a positive difference to people’s lives.
“We are determined to ensure their efforts are not overshadowed by the actions of those who do not share these same values.”