The sexist comments said to have been uttered by a disgraced Merseyside Police officer have come to light following a disciplinary hearing.
Sergeant Brian Boylan appeared at a misconduct hearing in Wavertree on Monday and admitted making inappropriate comments and gestures towards female colleagues.
The panel at the hearing ruled Sgt Boylan should not be sacked for his comments but was instead given a final written warning.
It was not revealed at the hearing what comments and gestures Sgt Boylan made because Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ward, chairman of the panel, ruled details of the allegations should not be publicly disclosed.
A source has now contacted the ECHO disclosing what the comments were.
The details given by the source are believed to be correct, and Merseyside Police has not denied their veracity.
The ECHO has decided the exact comments believed to have been made by Sgt Boylan are too obscene to reveal but, in summary, he is said to have:
– called pregnant females fat
– made remarks and gestures about pregnant women’s breasts and milk in front of a colleague eating dry cereal
– used a crude derogatory phrase to describe women’s bodies
– made sexist comments to female colleagues preparing for a Christmas night out
Following Monday’s disciplinary hearing the ECHO asked readers if they thought ACC Ward was right not to disclose the sexist comments made by Sgt Boylan.
In a poll on the ECHO website, 61% of voters said the police were wrong not to disclose what was said by the officer.
Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ward ; Sergeant Brian Boylan
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ward said today: “I have no intention of confirming or denying whether these comments are accurate.
“I made the decision that the comments should not be made public to protect the complainant from any further embarrassment and I am disappointed that these comments have now been published.”
Sgt Boylan, who pleaded guilty to gross misconduct, told Monday’s hearing he was “ashamed and embarrassed” about the comments he made.
He said: “I am mortified, I am embarrassed, I am disappointed. The police force has been my whole life,
I want to take the opportunity to apologise to the team members and individuals for the words and behaviour I have used.”.
Sgt Boylan faced four allegations of breaching standards of professional behaviour by:
– In August 2014, while on duty, making an inappropriate sexual comment to a female colleague in police premises;
– On dates between mid-December 2014 and early January 2015, he allegedly used inappropriate language towards a female colleague, whom he was supervising;
– In January this year, he allegedly made inappropriate comments and gestures towards a female colleague and “failed to amend his behaviour when challenged”;
– In March this year, Sgt Boylan is alleged to have made derogatory comments about female work colleagues.
Detective Superintendent Andy Williams, representing Merseyside Police, said the standards by Sgt Boylan “fell well below those expected of a police officer”.
Richard Black, the lawyer representing Sgt Boylan, said his client admitted he brought “great shame on himself and his family”.
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ward said the panel was satisfied Sgt Boylan’s actions amounted to gross misconduct but, referring to his previously unblemished record and the witness’ desire for him not to be sacked, said they had decided to give him a final written warning rather than dismissal.
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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/