Two police officers cleared by a jury in 2019 of using a police dog as a weapon against criminals have been exonerated again after a disciplinary hearing cleared them of gross misconduct. The ruling brings to an end six years of failed criminal and disciplinary action against the PCs.
PC Paul Jackson, 39, of Greater Manchester Police, was said to have deployed German shepherd dog Jerry to seriously injure five men, all of whom abandoned cars that were being chased by officers. During a Preston Crown Court trial, it was alleged that PC Jackson went on the attack with Jerry in a series of incidents between August 2015 and September 2016.
The former lifeguard, from Radcliffe, said he acted lawfully at all times, insisting he carried out his duties in a reasonable and proportionate manner. The officer was cleared of five counts of wounding with intent and five alternative counts of causing grievous bodily harm in June 2019. Had he been convicted, he faced a lengthy jail sentence.
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His colleague PC Paul Lockett, 40, from Altrincham, was found not guilty of aiding and abetting one of PC Jackson's alleged assaults and one count of misconduct in a public office.
Both officers were subject to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which resulted in the Crown Prosecution Service bringing the criminal charges of which the officers were found not guilty following the trial at Preston Crown Court.
Following the trial, senior officers at Greater Manchester Police had a change of heart, and informed the IOPC in April 2020 the two officers, and two others, should not face gross misconduct charges.
But the police watchdog directed the force to instigate disciplinary proceedings against PCs Jackson and Lockett. Had the case against them been proved, they faced the sack but following the month-long hearing, yesterday (Friday) the three-man panel considering the case, including one police officer, found the allegations 'not proven'.
Following the finding, IOPC Director of Operations Amanda Rowe said: "This has been a complex case involving some very serious allegations and some of the men involved suffered significant dog bite injuries. As such, it was important for the matters to be independently and thoroughly investigated.
"Our work has ensured these officers actions have been scrutinised at public hearings, which provides the transparency that is vital for public confidence in policing and in the complaints system. We are grateful to the panel for their consideration of the matters brought before them."
Murderer says dog bit him 'down to the bone'
In all, the IOPC carried out seven investigations into complaints linked to eight incidents involving PC Paul Jackson. The complaints, which were referred by GMP between May 2015 and December 2016, related to the use of force against male suspects. Some of the men suffered significant dog bite injuries. One of the complainants alleged PC Lockett failed to challenge his colleague during one of the incidents or report it afterwards. No charges were brought against two other officers.
Among the suspects who gave evidence at the 2019 trial was a convicted murderer who told the jury the dog bit him 'down to the bone' on his arm. Lee Junior Walker, then 34, was detained by PC Paul Jackson near Roundthorn tram stop in Wythenshawe at 11pm on August 13, 2015.
Mr Walker was said to have fled from police investigating the theft of an Audi TT. Three years later he was jailed for life over a separate incident where he killed a man, the court was told.
The Preston Crown Court jury was told how PC Jackson released Jerry, who cornered Mr Walker in a car park and bit his leg, ankle and arm. The dog was allegedly encouraged to keep biting at the same wounds by the officer who was said to be 'grinding his teeth' and 'out of control'.
The jury heard evidence from Mr Walker, who was jailed for life in January 2018 for fatally stabbing dad-of-one Shaun Murphy in the heart. He told the jurors: "It got to the stage where I could feel its teeth in my arm, touching my bone."
PC Jackson, a police dog handler who worked in the Stolen Vehicle Intercept Unit, then 'punched him straight in the face', he said.
He alleged that the officer pulled him by the legs while the dog pulled at his arm. "There was nothing I could do. I thought that with the dog catching me, that the cuffs would be on and that would be it. I've never seen such an aggressive officer and I've been around police my whole life.
"He was out of control. He was grinding his teeth, calling me names, not to mention punching and kicking. I never resisted arrest, I've never experienced this before."
Following his 2019 acquittal, PC Jackson, a decorated officer who has been with GMP for 13 years, said: "It’s ludicrous it got that far. I feel like I was being punished for doing my job, being too proactive. Jerry and I used to be a great team - we were catching criminals.
"I was making arrests, now two years of not being able to [that]. That’s what members of the public have lost out on. I’m not saying there shouldn’t be an investigation body of any sort. What we do, we should be accountable for doing so. But the way they do it is just wrong.
"I’ve been treated terribly by the IOPC. There’s been no consideration whatsoever from the IOPC investigators into the work that we do, the stress and everything that we work under, and the split-second decisions that we have to make on a daily basis. The way they’ve gone about it and dealt with it, it's disgusting and not appropriate."
The IOPC stood by its investigation at the time. The full judgement of the panel is expected to be released next week.
