A senior police officer retired just before a disciplinary hearing determined that he had engaged in inappropriate behavior towards a younger female colleague, including sending her explicit messages and photos. The disciplinary proceedings, which took place at the headquarters of the Greater Manchester Police (GMP), concluded that the officer, Rob Cousen, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct if he had not retired beforehand.
The disciplinary panel found that Cousen’s actions were driven by sexual motives as he had maintained an inappropriate relationship with the junior officer for an extended period. Cousen, who held the position of chief superintendent with an annual salary of approximately £100,000, was placed on suspension in October 2022.
During the hearing, it was revealed that Cousen had obtained the personal phone number of the female officer and had engaged in flirtatious communication with her, even proposing a promotion that she had not sought nor was qualified for. Furthermore, he had sent unsolicited explicit photos to her on multiple occasions.
In response to the allegations, Cousen admitted to gross misconduct but chose to retire just hours before the hearing, acknowledging that his behavior was unacceptable for a police officer. The disciplinary panel, led by Debra Tedds, a former chief constable, concluded that Cousen’s actions constituted a clear case of gross misconduct and recommended that his name be added to the College of Policing “barred list.”
Kate Halpin, from the Police Superintendents’ Association, stated that Cousen had expressed regret for his actions and offered sincere apologies to his colleagues and the public. Despite his past record of supporting victims, his conduct in this instance led to the premature end of his career in law enforcement.