A police officer caught on film repeatedly punching his puppy has been fired. Sergeant Martin Dunn, of the Specialist Operations Branch, lost his temper after five-month-old springer spaniel Frank pooed on his lounge carpet.
Footage of the attack shown in court saw Dunn shout: "You little b***ard!" before walking up to the dog and punching it three or four times. Probation reports said the officer had been involved in the terrorism incident at Manchester Arena in 2017 and has been suffering from PTSD, reports YorkshireLive.
Dunn, of Albion Gardens, Meltham, admitted animal cruelty in court and was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work and a ban from keeping animals for five years.
He has now been sacked by Greater Manchester Police. A spokesperson for the force said he had been on restricted duties since the incident was reported and investigated by West Yorkshire Police and admitted gross misconduct at an independent disciplinary panel. He was dismissed without notice.
Chief Superintendent Michael Allen, Head of GMP's Professional Standards Branch, said: "Greater Manchester Police expects the highest standards of conduct from its officers, both on and off duty, and Dunn's actions clearly fell far short of these standards. The vast majority of police officers and staff fulfil their duties in serving the public to the highest standard and demonstrate exemplary behaviour in their private lives.
“Public trust and confidence in the police is vital and GMP does not underestimate the importance of officers and staff demonstrating the highest standards of professional behaviour towards not only members of the public but also to animals. Having a criminal conviction for animal cruelty makes Dunn wholly unsuitable to continue serving as a police officer and his cruelty towards Frank the dog is ultimately why he has lost his job.
"Dunn’s actions, which have rightly been condemned by the public and his colleagues, bring the profession into disrepute and damage the confidence the public has in police officers. I would like to thank West Yorkshire Police, who investigated this case criminally, and, working with the Crown Prosecution Service, secured the conviction at criminal court.
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“GMP’s Professional Standards Branch has a responsibility to hold policing to account, taking action where misconduct is identified, and under new management this work is now accelerating, focusing both on legacy cases and new reports.”
Dunn's defence said he 'unreservedly accepted the allegations' and that it was an isolated incident.
Paul Forster, the chairman of the independent panel, said the decision had been reached to "maintain public confidence in the police service."
He added: "Hearings like this are about the individual but also about much more, with bigger and wider considerations in play. Therefore, the most appropriate outcome is dismissal without notice."
