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Officer Caught With Cocaine Avoids Sacking
18 Dec
Summary
- A former police officer tested positive for cocaine metabolite.
- The officer resigned before facing disciplinary action.
- A panel determined he would have been dismissed if he hadn't resigned.
A former police officer, identified as PC Mark Williams, resigned in April 2024 after testing positive for cocaine. The positive test result for the class A drug's metabolite was confirmed in March 2024 by Thames Valley Police's counter-corruption team during a routine screening. The analysis of his urine sample, taken at the Sulhamstead training base, revealed the presence of benzoylecgonine.
Following his resignation, a panel convened at Thames Valley Police headquarters in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, reviewed the case. The panel concluded that had PC Williams not resigned, he would have faced dismissal from the force. This finding underscores the seriousness with which drug use by law enforcement officers is treated.
The incident highlights the internal disciplinary processes within Thames Valley Police. While Mr. Williams is no longer a serving officer, the panel's decision indicates a strong stance against misconduct involving illegal substances, suggesting that such actions would typically lead to the termination of employment for active officers.
