Police constable sacked after bizarre row over her partner pushing a pram during sick leave
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A police constable was sacked over a bizarre row about her partner pushing a pram in a shopping centre.
Detective Constable Rebecca Cowin was dismissed after defending her partner when he was accused of pushing the pram around Liverpool ONE - despite being off sick with an injured left shoulder.
The Merseyside Police worker was let off by a misconduct panel after facing questions about the incident in December 2015.
Her sacking followed attempts to defend her partner, DC Allen Gustafson, who was found to have no case to answer, reports the Liverpool ECHO .
The panel heard claims the two constables had been dishonest during a probe into whether DC Gustafson had been spotted pushing the pram in December 2015.
The sighting was made by his line manager, Detective Inspector Rachel Wilson, who questioned him the next day only for DC Gustafson to deny he had been pushing it.
That prompted a probe that saw police obtain CCTV footage apparently showing the 42-year-old pushing the pram with both hands and at some points with just his left hand.
DC Gustafson had an occupational health assessment two days later and was deemed unfit for work.
A meeting to discuss his return the following month turned sour when DI Wilson brought up the pram issue - only for him to deny it.
DC Cowin, who has two children with DC Gustafson, then backed up his claims and was accused of telling the welfare meeting: “He wasn’t pushing it [the pram], he couldn’t push it. He hasn’t been able to pick up the baby for five months.”
(Photo: Getty)
Both constables denied breaching professionalism and honesty standards during four days of evidence, heard in November.
During the case DC Gustafson raised concerns over attempts to access his medical records while DC Cowin, who was brought up on Wirral, denied lying and added: “He’s never been told he cannot push a pram to my knowledge.”
The panel adjourned the hearing until just before Christmas, when it ruled DC Gustafson had no case to answer but that DC Cowin had breached professional standards.
Detective Superintendent Dave McCaughrean said: “Merseyside Police demands the highest possible standards from its officers and staff.
“We will always thoroughly investigate when we receive information about those that fall below those professional standards, to ensure the public can continue to have the utmost confidence in the force.
“Detective Constable Cowin’s conduct fell below this standard. We will not have officers and staff working for us who do not uphold the highest levels of professionalism and honesty.
“Thankfully the vast majority of officers who work for Merseyside Police do a really good job day in, day out and serve our communities with compassion, integrity and professionalism.”