Cop who despatched penis picture to colleague took ‘retirement’ hours earlier than disciplinary listening to
A senior police officer decided to take ‘early retirement’ from Greater Manchester Police just hours before a disciplinary hearing over a penis photo sent to a junior female colleague.
Rob Cousen, who become the commander of GMP’s Tameside division, retired from the force before a disciplinary hearing held at the force’s headquarters today (December 1).
The hearing concluded he was guilty of gross misconduct and the result would have seen him sacked if he has not already retired, reports MEN.
A panel ruled Cousen’s conduct was ‘sexually motivated throughout’ and he pursued a ‘sexual and inappropriate relationship’ with a junior female officer.
(Image: Greater Manchester Police)
Cousen, who reportedly earned about £100,000-a-year as a chief superintendent, was suspended back in October 2022.
The former chief superintendent admitted gross misconduct but retired from the force at midnight.
John Beggs KC told the hearing that this meant Cousen had ‘ceased to be’ a police officer when the hearing started.
The KC described how Cousen had an inappropriate relationship with a junior female officer after he ‘obtained’ her personal phone number and began sending her texts.
The hearing was told how he ‘flirting’ with her and wanted to meet her outside work hours.
Cousens was accused of contacting her ‘when you were drunk and with friends outside work hours’, the lawyer told the hearing.
Mr Beggs told the hearing that Cousen’s had offered the female officer a temporary post at a higher rank that she was not qualified to take up. The hearing heard the junior officer has not asked for a promotion.
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