Former officer barred from policing after off-duty discriminatory behaviour

A former sergeant has been barred from working in policing again after being found to have acted in a discriminatory manner while off-duty. 

A two-day misconduct hearing started on Monday 2 November into the behaviour of former Sgt Edward Ryan was held at police headquarters in Portishead. 

The hearing, chaired by former Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden, was told that Sgt Ryan had made a transphobic comment during a discussion about a television show at a team social event in Bristol in April 2024. At the same event, he also made multiple inappropriate sexualised comments and gestures relating to a woman he knew outside of work. 

The comments were made in public in front of colleagues, who ensured they were reported to our Professional Standards Department within 48 hours. 

The panel concluded the allegations that Sgt Ryan had breached the standards of professional behaviour had been proven and they amounted to gross misconduct. 

It ruled Sgt Ryan would have been dismissed without notice, if he had not retired in August 2024. 

A/Det Supt Will Thorpe, from the Professional Standards Department, said: “Sgt Ryan’s inappropriate behaviour and comments understandably shocked and appalled the police colleagues who were with him at the time. 

“Those other officers did the right thing in reporting what had happened. Their concerns have been treated seriously and have paved the way for us to taking action against this former officer. 

“The public, rightly, expect officers to hold the highest standards of professionalism. This expectation applies equally to a person being on-duty, as well as off-duty. 

“Sgt Ryan’s conduct will inevitably negatively impact the public’s confidence in policing. 

“We hope the positive action taken by colleagues to report what happened, and the decision to prohibit him from working within law enforcement in future, sends a powerful message that there is no place in policing for anyone who displays discriminatory behaviour.” 

A copy of the full misconduct hearing report will be published on our website in due course.