Three West Midlands Police officers & a PCSO to face misconduct proceedings over treatment of man who later died
West Midlands Poilce officers along wtih a PCSO are facing misconduct proceedings due to the treatment of a man who later died
West Midlands Police officers were called to Coventry Central Library on December 8 2022 and found 63-year-old Jerome Cowan slumped in a toilet cubicle, apparently intoxicated, and unable to stand or stay awake, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.
Officers removed him from the cubicle and put him on the floor but noticed a short time later that Mr Cowan was not breathing.
An ambulance took him to hospital but he died soon after arriving there.
The IOPC said a two-week inquest in Coventry which finished on Monday found that Mr Cowan’s death was alcohol and drug related.
In their narrative finding, the jury said they did not believe he had a realistic chance of survival, but there were “missed opportunities” in the care provided which may have contributed to his death.
An IOPC investigation, which was started in March 2023, looked at whether the actions and decisions of officers followed national and local policy, including in relation to the provision of first aid, whether Mr Cowan was treated with respect and dignity and the fairness and impartiality shown to him given he was homeless and alcohol-dependent.
The investigation found a case to answer for gross misconduct for a PCSO and three constables, one of whom is now serving with Warwickshire Police.
IOPC director Emily Barry said: “A sad feature of this case is that Mr Cowan had no known next of kin but our sympathies go out to everyone affected by his death, particularly in such a distressing set of circumstances.
“Our inquiries looked at the level of care he received and found potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour for alleged failures, amongst others, to provide first aid, treat Mr Cowan in a dignified and respectful manner, and challenge and report colleagues’ behaviour.
“It will now be for West Midlands Police to organise proceedings for the officers, which will consider the evidence we gathered.”
While the officers were interviewed under criminal caution by the IOPC, the watchdog decided not to send a file of evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any charges against them.
