A hearing was told how the officer harassed female colleagues and made a slew of lewd comments
A Kent police officer sexually harassed female colleagues and made a slew of lewd comments, a hearing has been told.
Former Medway PC Louis Russon made several comments about female officers, and on one occasion, in front of members of the public.
A misconduct hearing was held on Thursday, December 18, into his behaviour and was chaired by Chief Constable Tim Smith, who said Russon would have been sacked if he had not already resigned.
Mr Smith was told Russon, who joined Kent Police in October 2019, had a history of making “sexist and misogynistic remarks” to colleagues.
DCI Joanna Lay, on behalf of the force, told the hearing that the “laddish culture within the team” was highlighted at a training day where staff were told to be more mindful about such things.
On that day, one female officer reported Russon’s behaviour, and thereafter, a total of six female officers came forward detailing his sexist conduct.
DCI Lay said: “He sent a message to a PC saying ‘call me daddy’, or words to this effect. On an unknown date he said to one PC ‘I really want to f*** you right now.”
On another occasion, he said to an officer “you might not be able to complete a crime report on your phone but at least you have a nice arse”, the panel heard.
It was also said that he commented on several female members of the public including breast size and attire in a “mocking way” while working with colleagues from a police van.
He was also accused of speaking about his sex life in front of colleagues.
One colleague reported that the former officer referred to her as “babe” and wanted to “smash her.”
Russon was said to have talked of “combining the features of female officers to create ‘a perfect shag.'”
In another incident, when referring to a female colleague who is a lesbian, Russon said “she’s not a vegetarian, she’s a vagitarian” in reference to both her diet and sex life, DCI Lay explained.
She also told the hearing that when attending an incident, a member of the public made a comment to a female PC indicating he wanted to have sex with her, and Russon responded: “I don’t blame you mate, I would.”
Russon did not attend the hearing and did not instruct his Police Federation representative to defend his case in any way.
His actions were described as “repugnant, misogynistic and discriminatory,” and had created “a toxic environment for female colleagues.”
DCI Lay said the women who reported him felt that Russon’s comments “violated their dignity, and created a threatening, humiliating work environment,” calling for the actions to be considered gross misconduct.
Usually, such hearings are held before a panel chaired by a senior police officer, assisted by independent members of the public, and a legally qualified advisor who must meet the judicial eligibility criteria.
However, this hearing was accelerated and heard only before the Chief Constable.
Russon resigned in April, but the hearing heard he had claimed the allegations were part of a conspiracy by female colleagues he had fallen out with. He said he did not recall the comments and that they did not seem like something he would say.
Mr Smith described Russon’s behaviour as “misogynistic, discriminatory and exclusionary.”
“Had former PC Russon been serving today, I would have dismissed him without notice,” Mr Smith said.
Russon has also been added to the barred list, meaning he will never be able to serve as a police officer again.
Speaking after the decision, DCI Lay added: “Former PC Louis Russon made comments to colleagues and about members of the public that were wholly unacceptable, discriminatory and entirely inappropriate for any setting.
“The vast majority of Kent Police officers and staff take pride in treating people with decency and respect at all times. Those who fail to uphold these standards have no place in policing.
“I would like to thank the officers who reported former PC Russon’s behaviour. Their actions have helped maintain the integrity of policing and uphold public trust.”
