A police officer took selfies at a murder scene where a teenager had been stabbed to death and sent ‘deplorable’ racist, homophobic and offensive images via WhatsApp.
PC Ryan Connolly, who worked for Merseyside Police, also took photos of mentally ill people being sectioned, someone who had slit their wrists and at least two men in hospital.
He resigned in November prior to a disciplinary hearing taking place, the Guardian reported, and was later barred from ever rejoining the police.
Connolly’s case echoes that of the two Metropolitan Police officers who took mobile phone pictures of two murdered sisters, Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, as they guarded the crime scene.
Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis were jailed this month after admitting misconduct in public office.
Merseyside Police said their anti-corruption unit had caught Connolly and his ‘offensive behaviour’, which began in 2014.
Connolly, who joined the force in 2003, also had an association with a known criminal without informing his bosses. The racist photos included images of Muslims and a Ku Klux Klan member. He also took a picture of a fellow officer’s behind.
The most offensive photographs were taken in 2018 at the scene of a murder cordon, but did not feature the victim.
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley of Merseyside Police said: ‘The behaviour of this officer is deplorable and serves to undermine the public’s confidence and trust in the police.’
