West Mercia Police officer sacked for racist George Floyd messages

Both officers were based at Telford, West Mercia Police said

A second West Mercia Police officer has been sacked for sharing racist messages.

The unnamed officer, known as Officer X, had racist and derogatory conversations with colleague Jak Walshaw who was sacked last week.

Officer X admitted gross misconduct at the hearing on Monday, but denied the message had racial motives.

The misconduct panel heard one image referenced the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May 2020.

Officer X was suspended after he was identified as the officer involved in the shared conversations with the first officer, now named as Jak Walshaw after an anonymity order was lifted, the force said.

The 49-year-old, who was a sergeant based at Malinsgate Police Station, was dismissed without notice on 17 May.

On Monday, the panel hearing Officer X's case found he had committed gross misconduct and the messages he sent were racist.

His conduct amounted to serious breaches of the standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority, respect and courtesy; equality and diversity; and discreditable conduct, the force said.

The pair made derogatory comments and discussed abhorrent violence in conversations on WhatsApp, the spokesperson added.

'Contain anthrax'

After Officer X, a PC also based at Telford, failed at a promotional board while a black colleague was successful, he sent a message to Mr Walshaw saying he would "blacken up" for the next time he appeared before the board.

The officer later apologised to his black colleague for the messages sent.

He also told Mr Walshaw to search for a film of which the title included a racist word, with a subsequent message containing laughing emojis.

Barney Branston representing the police service, told the hearing when you put that search term into Google a warning about the racist nature of the content follows,

"When interviewed the officer sought to explain with some nonsense about the merits of the film," Mr Branston added.

"He was trying to make his friend and colleague laugh by looking at the title."

In another message, Mr Walshaw said of a colleague: "If I had the opportunity I would burn her alive."

In response Officer X said he would carry out a sex act on her as she burned.

Speaking about another colleague Officer X added: "The only post he gets from me will contain anthrax."

During an interview, the officer said he was referencing the heavy metal band Anthrax.

"These images and memes were overwhelmingly inappropriate and ghastly," Mr Branston said.

"He has admitted gross misconduct and should be dismissed."

Det Insp Lesley Williams, representing the police officer, said he accepted sending the images and memes and had responded to each allegation with his own account.

He accepted "he failed to act in a professional manner", but was not motivated by race and did not have any content on his work mobile phone, she said.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: "Both officers engaged in abhorrent conversations, quickly after Officer X was identified as being involved he was suspended from duty. "