A police officer from Dorset Police has been dismissed without notice after admitting to intentionally strangling a member of the public during an off-duty incident. Police Constable Tyler McWalter was involved in the assault, which took place in the early hours of September 14, 2024, on The Esplanade in Weymouth.
During the confrontation, PC McWalter placed his arm around the victim’s neck and pulled him to the ground. The officer later admitted to the offence of intentional strangulation at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on March 20, 2024.
Following an accelerated misconduct hearing held at Dorset Police Headquarters in Winfrith, Chief Constable Amanda Pearson upheld the breach of professional standards, ruling the conduct as gross misconduct. Consequently, PC McWalter was dismissed immediately and is now listed on the police barred list, permanently prohibited from serving in any police capacity.
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Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell expressed deep disappointment over the incident: “We expect all officers to maintain the highest standards of behavior, on and off duty. Violence of this nature will never be tolerated within our force. We are committed to holding our officers accountable and affirm that there is no place in the police service for such conduct.”
Dorset Police encourages the public to report any concerns or misconduct by contacting them via phone, email, or their website. Additionally, individuals can reach out to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) or use the Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service, managed by Crimestoppers, to provide any relevant information confidentially.