Cleveland Police Sergeant Sacked for Gross Misconduct...

The Detective Sergeant, said to have been responsible for the taking down of a major drugs ring operating on Teesside was dismissed without notice after being found guilty of Gross Misconduct...

11th March 2025

A Cleveland Police officer who received praise for his service dismantling a major international drugs ring has been dismissed after being found guilty of multiple misconduct charges following a lengthy disciplinary hearing.

Detective Sergeant John Fitzpatrick was ruled to have committed serious breaches of professional standards, including improper handling of confidential information, failing to follow orders, and engaging in conduct that tarnished the already embattled force’s reputation.

As a result of his actions, Fitzpatrick was subsequently dismissed from Cleveland Police with immediate effect. Temporary Superintendent Karen Naunton, who oversees the Department of Standards and Ethics, stressed the importance of maintaining integrity within the force.

“Our duty is to serve and protect the public with the highest levels of professionalism. Any officer who disregards these standards, regardless of their position, will face the consequences,” she stated.

Naunton further highlighted the critical role of confidentiality in policing, emphasising that officers must handle sensitive information responsibly to uphold trust and safeguard investigations.

“This case demonstrates a clear failure to adhere to these principles, bringing unnecessary harm to the force’s reputation. Such behaviour is unacceptable, and we will continue to take decisive action against those who fail to meet our standards.”

The revelation comes as its been revealed that Cleveland Police's Chief Constable Mark Webster is set to stand down, ironically coming just days after yet another misconduct panel sees another officer removed from the force for Gross Misconduct.

Despite this, Cleveland Police reportedly reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining professionalism across all ranks, ensuring officers and staff uphold their responsibilities to the public, however questions over the forces apparent slide back into its bad habits are being raised, with the force under Mark Websters guardianship seeing repeated scandals which have plagued the force with no public confidence raising speculation that Cleveland Police is teetering once again towards being hauled back into special measures by authorities.