Top Off-Duty Police Officer Accessed Confidential Robbery Log in Serious Failing

Birmingham: A retired police officer got into hot water for checking a robbery log while off-duty. Detective Chief Inspector Evans accessed this confidential info for personal reasons. The disciplinary panel said it was a serious failing.

He looked at the log on June 28, 2023, even though it had nothing to do with him. The panel noted that he would have faced demotion if he hadn’t retired first. Evans had a clean record, but this breach was a big deal.

He claimed he was concerned about the victim’s wellbeing, but the panel wasn’t buying it. They pointed out he should have known better, especially given his rank. The rules are clear: officers can’t access confidential info for personal gain.

Evans didn’t attend the misconduct hearing but sent an email apologizing. He admitted to checking the log but said he forgot to document it. The panel found that hard to believe.

In the end, they decided he would have been demoted to inspector if he had still been on the force. His actions raised serious questions about integrity and trust in the police force.