Four West Midlands Police officers face probe over suicide of missing man
Four West Midlands Police officers have faced misconduct probes after the suicide of a vulnerable missing man in the Black Country.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation into the death of Kazimierz Radloff, from Dudley, has ruled three of the force's Constables and an Acting Inspector had cases to answer for misconduct.
Force failings meant the officers did not originally treat Mr Radloff as a vulnerable missing person and chances were missed 'to escalate the search' for him, according to the police watchdog.
Mr Radloff, aged 64, was found dead on July 6 last year and an inquest in August recorded that he had committed suicide.
Two days before his body was found, relatives told police that he had indicated he intended to take his own life.
The IPCC's investigation found that police initially treated him as someone in breach of bail conditions rather than as a vulnerable missing person.
Evidence indicated that a lack of intelligence checks and information sharing meant opportunities were missed to escalate the search.
Following the IPCC's investigation, the force concluded three of the four officers had a case to answer to gross misconduct.
Today, the force revealed their cases were heard and all have now been told they will be given words of management advice.
The IPCC investigator said there was no indication earlier intervention by police would have prevented Mr Radloff's suicide.
Mr Radloff had a mental health, ailment and suicide marker on PNC (Police National Computer).
On July 4 2015, Mrs Radloff attended the enquiry office at West Bromwich Police Station to report that she had received a phone call from Mr Radloff, her ex-husband, who had told her he was going to kill himself. He further stated that he was in West Bromwich and was watching her.
However, Mr Radloff had no interaction or communication with the police two days prior to his death.
The matter was referred to the IPCC in July last year with an independent investigation opened shortly after.
The IPCC investigator stated in his opinion that there had been a 'breach of the standards of professional behaviour'.
It was added that 'the potential breach is so serious that dismissal could be justified' for two of the officers.
