DCC avoids dismissal following abusive behaviour towards junior collegaues

A chief officer who was accused of verbally and physically attacking two junior colleagues will keep his job despite being found guilty on three counts of misconduct. Essex Police Deputy Chief Constable Matthew Horne – currently on secondment as deputy director general of the National Crime Agency – threw a “rubber stress ball” at Chief Superintendent Carl O’Malley, leaving a red mark on his throat. He was also accused of pushing the same officer with both hands, causing him to fall onto a desk, as well as calling Supt Glenn Maleary a c***. The incidents took place between on unknown dates between June 2015 and May 2016. Although Mr Horne denied the allegations, he was found guilty on three counts of misconduct at a professional standards board hearing on Friday (January 22). Essex Police said a further hearing will be held soon so Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh can decide on how his deputy will be disciplined. The panel recommended Mr Horne is given management advice and not dismissed. An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We note the findings of the panel. A further hearing will be held in public in due course in order that the chief constable, as appropriate authority, can decide on what sanction will be applied. “Those sanctions include management action, written warning, final written warning and do not include dismissal. “These events happened over two years ago, since when Essex Police has been inspected on ethical conduct and leadership by Her Majesty’s inspectors who found that… leaders are aware of the importance of an ethical approach and act as ethical role models. “We will reflect carefully on the detailed panel findings and will of course look to ensure that any wider learning for the force is taken on board.”