Essex Police boss guilty of misconduct

A senior Essex police officer did hurl a stress ball at a colleague's throat, amisconduct hearing has ruled.

Matthew Horne, who is Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police, faced threeallegations, which were all found proven by a panel in Chelmsford.

Mr Horne does not face the sack, but possible sanctions include management action, a written warning or final written warning.

The first allegation was that he angrily swore at a colleague and leaned inwith clenched fists, the second was that he pushed a colleague against a desk and the third was that he threw a rubber stress ball at a colleague's throat, leaving a red mark.

The panel found that, in respect of the first allegation, Mr Horne did swear atSuperintendent Glenn Maleary, which amounts to misconduct, but the rest of the allegation was found unproven. He also pushed Chief Superintendent Carl O'Malley, causing him to fall on to a desk, and threw a rubber stress ball, which hit Mr O'Malley's throat and left a red mark, the panel concluded, with both allegations proven at a level of misconduct.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: "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.”