Racist police officer abused colleagues in Maryhill office
- Published
A sheriff described Kyle Cruickshank's abusive language as "appalling"
A police officer has admitted subjecting colleagues to racist and sectarian abuse as well as assaulting a female officer.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Kyle Cruickshank, 32, abused fellow staff over five years while working at Glasgow's Maryhill police office.
The court heard Cruickshank would ask for colleague's surnames to see if they "sounded Catholic".
He also racially abused a constable who was of Asian descent.
The father-of-one's misogynistic remarks about female colleagues led to an investigation, the court heard.
Following Cruickshank's sentencing, Police Scotland said his conduct had fallen well below the expected high standards of professionalism the public demanded, and said racism had no place in society or policing.
Cruickshank pleaded guilty to a charge of pursuing a racially aggravated course of conduct towards an officer.
He further admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner which was aggravated by religious prejudice.
Cruickshank - who has since left Police Scotland after six years service - also pleaded guilty to assaulting a female officer.
The charges spanned between March 2017 and April 2022.
'Appalling language'
On Thursday, Sheriff Diana McConnell ordered Cruickshank to do 225 hours of unpaid work and placed him under supervision for 18 months.
He was also tagged for 60 days keeping him indoors between 20:00 and 05:00.
The sheriff told Cruickshank the community payback order was a "direct alternative" to a custodial sentence.
She said: "You used appalling, sectarian language and said you hated Catholics and made disgraceful sectarian remarks which you made in general conversation and not directed towards anyone.
"All the conduct took place while you were a serving police officer which is a significant aggravating factor."
Sheriff McConnell added: "Your conduct was a gross breach of trust placed on you by Police Scotland and the general public.
"It is of extreme concern that your conduct took place over five years and caused alarm and distress to colleagues."
The court heard Cruickshank referred to the Asian officer and a Jewish colleague in an abusive statement.
The officers would not come into the police office at certain times to avoid Cruickshank.
Prosecutor Louise James said he made similar offensive remarks towards Catholics.
She said: "He would ask (other officers) for their surnames to see if they had a Catholic surname."
The prosecutor said: "He would listen to calls coming through and listen to the name of the complainer.
"If their name sounded Catholic, Cruickshank would say 'they would get the jail'."
'Completely ignorant'
Cruickshank also made sexual and misogynistic comments about female colleague, and sprayed a female officer in the face with hand sanitiser.
Matters were investigated after she reported the circumstances to her supervisor.
Thomas McMurtrie, defending, told the court that his client respected the officers and held them in high regard.
The lawyer said: "The process has made him aware of the impact this has had.
"This has ashamed him for what he did. He has explained that he is disgusted and sick.
"He was completely ignorant to the impact his conduct had on those working around him and he accepts that the language and conduct was not appropriate."
Ch Supt Catriona Henderson said racism or discrimination was reprehensible in any form and had no place in society or in policing.
She said: "The vast majority of our officers and staff demonstrate our values of integrity, fairness and respect with a commitment to upholding human rights while serving our communities every day.
"Under current conduct regulations, Police Scotland has no ability to prevent an officer from resigning.
"If he had remained in service, his actions would have been subject to gross misconduct proceedings upon the conclusion of the criminal matters."