Tribunal finds ex-officer guilty of gross misconduct
Former Pc threatened to kill his ex partner
APOLICE officer who threatened to kill his partner has been found guilty of gross misconduct by a tribunal.
Jonathan Cahill was a serving West Midlands Police officer when he pushed his partner up against a wall at his home and screamed: “I’m going to f ***** kill you.”
The incident, which came amid a period of ill health and family issues, was ‘so serious’ colleagues were forced to attend and arrest him.
The officer retired before he was convicted of battery, threats to kill and criminal damage at Northampton Magistrates Court following the incident in March last year.
In a separate incident two years earlier he made ‘racist’ comments about his commander after being refused a request for personal leave.
He called Sergeant Ali a “dirty f ****** ‘P***’ b ****** ” whilst in earshot of three officer at Nechells Police Station in February 2016.
A tribunal hearing this week found Cahill guilty of gross misconduct over both incidents.
Cahill, who says he is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, would have been dismissed had he not already retired in 2018, following 26 years of service.
The hearing was told he grabbed his partner with both hands and pushed her against the wall.
Mr Peter Laverack, for the force, told the hearing: “The incident was so serious that the police had to attend. This police attendance resulted in an arrest, charge and conviction. He would not allow her to call anyone, then he has proceeded to put both his hands on her and pushed her. He said, ‘You have destroyed my children’s lives you used me, I’m going to f ***** kill you’.
“She believed the threat and managed to run down the stairs and call the police.”
The hearing was told Cahill then added: “Your son is dead to me, I will make sure of it.”
Cahill claims he was pushed into the family breakdown after being put on ‘zero pay’ following the racist outburst in 2016.
“He was in the police station on duty with other police officers,” said Mr Laverack.
“Mr Cahill had asked police Sergeant Ali for some time off to address the personal issues that were going on in his life and that request was refused. He was asking for it to deal with his family problems.”
His racist outburst, which he repeated several times, was heard by three police officers, who told him it was “out of order” and that he would “get in trouble”. Cahill was reported to a senior officer. He apologised to Sergeant Ali and was reassured there was “no ill feelings” between them.
Tribunal chairman Douglas Readings said: “He says that he was unwell and under pressure to return to work when he was under pressure from family issues and the breakdown of his relationship.
“He had first served in the army and had done 34 years of good service. He acted out of character and grossly abused his senior.
“The use of racist language is seriously damaging to the reputation of the police. We are satisfied that Mr Cahill is guilty of gross misconduct.”
Afterwards, Cahill claimed in a statement to the Post that he had been suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
He said: “The manner in which West Midlands Police have treated me has been atrocious, compounding and worsening my mental ill health. This is after 34 years exemplary service (eight years Army and 26 years police) always on the front line.
“I was pushed into a position where West Midlands Police Occupational Health and Professional Standards refused to acknowledge or accept my diagnosis of Complex PTSD and Borderline Personality Disorder.”