Police sergeant suspended for ‘sharing inappropriate meme of George Floyd in WhatsApp group with other officers’

‘It will be of considerable public concern that such an image was apparently shared among colleagues by a serving police officer,’ watchdog’s regional chief says

A Devon and Cornwall Police sergeant is under criminal investigation by the police watchdog for allegedly distributing an inappropriate image of George Floyd to a WhatsApp group, which contained other officers.

The image is alleged to have been shared on 30 May – five days after Floyd’s death in Minneapolis after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also investigating other members of the group, which contained a number of officers and staff members, for their alleged response to the image or their apparent failure to report the matter.

The force announced the sergeant’s suspension “as an interim measure” on Monday afternoon. He had previously been placed on restricted duties, reports suggest, after the alleged incident was “promptly” referred to the watchdog.

“It will be of considerable public concern that such an image was apparently shared among colleagues by a serving police officer,” IOPC regional director Catrin Evans said in a statement.

“We are criminally investigating the sergeant who allegedly shared the image, and examining the conduct of some others involved in the group.

“Our investigators will be considering whether the sharing of this image was motivated by racial discrimination. Devon and Cornwall Police has rightly promptly referred it to the IOPC, and I would like to assure people we are conducting a thorough and independent investigation.”

The probe follows a mandatory referral to the IOPC from Devon and Cornwall Police after one of the WhatsApp group members reported the image to their force manager.

Assistant Chief Constable Jim Nye said: “Devon and Cornwall Police expects the highest standards of behaviour from all its staff when on and off duty at all times.

“This matter was quickly brought to light internally by a member of staff and reported to a Devon and Cornwall Police manager. A proactive referral was then made to the IOPC at the earliest opportunity.

“The IOPC has confirmed they will be treating this as an independent investigation and the force will co-operate fully with the investigation. As an interim measure Devon and Cornwall Police has chosen to suspend a police sergeant involved in the investigation.

“Devon and Cornwall Police wholly appreciate the concern our communities will have regarding an investigation of this kind, I would reassure them that I, and the chief constable, will do everything possible to ensure the matter is dealt with effectively and in a timely manner.

“It would be inappropriate to make any judgement or further comment at this stage, but is only right that we show openness and transparency with our communities on this matter, so will continue to work closely with the IOPC during the coming days and weeks.”

Floyd’s death in police custody has drawn tens of thousands to the streets in the UK, despite the coronavirus pandemic, to highlight and protest systemic racism in the UK.

The public glare upon the police’s record on race has intensified as a result, with numerous protesters carrying placards with the names of people of colour who have died during encounters with UK police, amid renewed conversation about the disproportionate rates of stop and search, arrest and use of force faced by black communities.

Devon and Cornwall Police has also referred itself to the IOPC after the death of 35-year-old Simeon Francis in a cell in Torquay on 20 May.

While the IOPC is investigating, Francis’s family said they have also made a formal complaint to the force over a video from July 2019 depicting Francis shouting “I can’t breathe” during a separate arrest by the same force.

The footage shows 10 officers, three of whom are restraining Francis and one appearing to press their knee into Francis’s back. A witness can be heard to remark: “Do you really need that many officers on him?”

The force said that the arrest related to a recall to prison, and that Mr Francis had been returned “safe and well to prison”. It has referred itself to the IOPC over the incident since the footage emerged.