POLICE Chief Constable Nick Gargan has today (Thursday) been found guilty of eight charges of misconduct by a panel of experts.
Mr Gargan was suspended on full pay from his £150,000-a-year job last May after being accused of making inappropriate advances to female staff.
After the Independent Police Complaints Commission found there was no criminal case to answer, Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens called an internal inquiry and Mr Gargan faced an independent misconduct hearing.
The Avon and Somerset Constabulary boss faced 10 charges of gross misconduct and three charges of misconduct.
He has been found guilty of eight charges at a level of misconduct.
Chairman of the misconduct panel Dorian Lovell-Pank QC will now write a report of the panel’s findings and will recommend any sanctions the Chief Constable should face under police regulations.
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens will hold a sanction hearing with the Chief Constable following receipt of the panel’s report.
On the basis of the panel’s findings Chief Constable Nick Gargan’s suspension has today been lifted.
A phased return to work is being prepared for after the sanction hearing.
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