A City of London police officer resigned in disgrace after taking magic mushrooms and calling 999 to report a belief that his friend had jumped into the River Thames.
The officer – who was granted anonymity for his misconduct hearing – took the class A drug on August 26 last year after drinking alcohol and while on medication.
While high, he made an emergency call which sparked a police response.
Dubbed “Officer X” in the published misconduct hearing report, he admitted on the 999 call and to uniformed officers in person that he had been taking magic mushrooms.
“On the balance of probability I believe that you took a magic mushroom which you knew to be an illegal substance,” wrote City of London Police Commissioner Peter O’Doherty.
“Despite the medication that you were on at the time, your consumption of alcohol on the day in question, I believe you still had control over your decisions and actions that day. Your actions amounted to the possession and ultimately consumption of a class A drug which is a criminal offence
“Once you had consumed the drug, you contacted the police both in order to find assistance for your friend whom you had thought had jumped into the river Thames and to speak to an officer regarding what you had done.
“This had an impact on the emergency services that were deployed and these actions are likely to bring the force into disrepute and impact public confidence, as we are here to protect and enforce the law to the highest set of values and standards.”
Commissioner O’Doherty said Officer X had a record of “excellent service” in the force, he was struggling with mental health issues, and was also under stress at work.
Officer X resigned in January this year, before the misconduct hearing took place.
Commissioner O’Doherty concluded the unnamed officer would have been dismissed without notice if still serving.
The anonymous officer’s name will also be added to the College of Policing Barred List.
