Police Sergeant Quit After Gross Misconduct Findings

A police sergeant resigned in April 2025, just before a misconduct panel determined he had committed gross misconduct. Paul Bentley, who served with Thames Valley Police, faced allegations of pestering a junior colleague on social media and making inappropriate jokes. The panel found that Bentley's actions constituted gross misconduct and would have resulted in his dismissal from the force.

Bentley's behavior included regularly liking the officer's social media posts and sending frequent messages on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. The junior colleague reported feeling uncomfortable due to these interactions, as well as jokes Bentley made about them living together and having children. While Bentley admitted his conduct was misconduct, he denied it was gross misconduct.

The panel emphasized that the officer's welfare should have been prioritized but instead, she experienced a repeated, unwanted course of conduct. Despite acknowledging the behavior was not malicious or sexually motivated, the panel concluded Bentley failed in his duty as a role model. His actions, which persisted for months, were described as repeated and sustained.