An award-winning motorcycle officer who sent an explicit photo to a woman while on duty has been dismissed for gross misconduct
PC Dave Humpherson, who was once voted "policeman of the year" by West Midlands Police, met a lady described as "Miss A" to "explore the possibility of having a sexual relationship" at a petrol station.
The meeting was subsequent to a "match" made on the dating website Bumble, a virtual hearing at Lloyd House in Birmingham was told.
The policeman, who served 22 years with the force and worked to stop taxi drivers operating illegally, was on duty and in uniform when he got into her car on September 2nd, 2019.
They met at a Shell garage on the A491 in Bell End, near Clent, the hearing was told that later the same day the 41-year-old sent an explicit photo online to the woman.
PC Humpherson's barrister had argued that Miss A had "encouraged" the PC into a sexualised conversation.
West Midlands Police Chief Constable Dave Thompson, who presided over the misconduct hearing, said the actions were "reckless and unwise", and found the officer's behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
The Johnson Partnership
Nottingham Solicitors
01159 419141