Glam rookie cop tried to kiss colleague on night out and told him 'you know you want to'
Brogan Canning, a rookie officer, has been barred from becoming an officer again after a night out in which she attempted to kiss a coworker. When the colleague refused, she persisted, and eerily told him that he "wanted to". Canning was struck off from the force following a police misconduct hearing earlier this week, but had already left her job. North Yorkshire Police confirmed that had she stayed at the job, she would have been given the boot. Canning had four allegations of sexual misconduct made against her following the incident which left her victim feeling "angry and embarrassed". She continued to try and chat him up, even when he had said no, asking him "Do you think I'm fit?"
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The night out that sparked the allegations
These events unfolded during a night out that involved several officers, including an unnamed police officer referred to as PC A. It was alleged that Canning had grabbed her superior by the neck to bring him towards her, according to the Sun. During the uncomfortable encounter, Canning is alleged to have touched his leg several times. She also had repeatedly said to him: "You know you want to", leaving him feeling disgusted. Nathan Mills, one eyewitness to the incident, had said he had seen her "stroking the hand" of the man. Another witness, PC Megan Smith, said that Canning had been "acting oddly throughout the night" before she was put in a taxi home. In his own testimony, PC A said he "had expected more professional behaviour" from his coworker. Canning would later leave her job at the force when she was told she was now under investigation following the incident.
Eyewitness accounts and testimonies
Nathan Mills, one eyewitness to the incident, said he had seen her "stroking the hand" of the man. Another witness, PC Megan Smith, said that Canning had been "acting oddly throughout the night" before she was put in a taxi home. In his own testimony, PC A said he "had expected more professional behaviour" from his coworker.
Canning's account and defence
Giving her side of the story, Canning had admitted her actions were "out of control". In a statement given to the hearing, the mother said: "Notwithstanding her lack of memory, the officer did not dispute the allegations." "She had been good friends with [PC A] previously and did not provide any reason to doubt his honesty or assertions," the statement added. "She had drunk a significant amount of alcohol, which had impaired her judgment on the night and her subsequent recollection of events." "She was remorseful from the outset and has extended her personal apologies to him," it concluded. She also disputed some of the evidence given from witnesses, saying there could have been "some inconsistencies" with their version of events.
Panel findings and the path ahead
However, a panel which presided over the probe said the statements given by PC A, PC Smith and Mills were all credible and could be trusted. The board said that Canning's actions and words had amounted to gross misconduct of her position, particularly with reference to the "unwanted sexual approach" towards PC A. In its decision, the panel said Canning was showing "victimising and offensive", which was "therefore a breach of the standard". Giving her reaction to the ruling, the chair of the panel Assistant Chief Officer Sarah Jackson said Canning could impact "public confidence" in the force. "This matter concerns multiple breaches of the standards and clearly could have an impact on public confidence in policing and the reputation of the police service," she said. "We therefore have concluded that the most appropriate outcome is a finding that the officer would have been dismissed had they still been a member of the police force."
