Detective Sergeant John Fitzpatrick faces a hearing over alleged misconduct, including texts and steroid possession.
A police detective is facing a misconduct hearing. Detective Sergeant John Fitzpatrick is the officer in question. He allegedly sent improper messages to a witness who was arrested in a drug case, which initially involved someone else.
Fitzpatrick shared details on ongoing police probes and discussed extradition matters in the messages. He also made rude comments about fellow officers, calling them “Miss Marple” and “clueless”. The messages were allegedly sent via WhatsApp.
Fitzpatrick previously worked on Operation Spoonbill, which targeted a large drug crime group importing drugs into the UK. He also broke orders during surveillance, stored police data on personal devices, and steroids were found at his home.
The hearing covers several misconduct allegations, including breaches of confidentiality, discreditable conduct, breaking orders, and neglecting his duties. The hearing began Monday in Thornaby.
In 2012, Fitzpatrick worked a case, and ‘Person A’ was a witness in that case. Between 2018 and 2020, messages passed between them, where he allegedly shared police information. Remarks about officers were ‘inappropriate’, and some messages were read at the hearing.
‘Person A’ sent photos to Fitzpatrick, asking if he could ID people as CID. He replied, “Go on then,” and then named them after getting the pictures. He called one “Miss Marple” and deemed her competent, and said another was “clueless”.
Fitzpatrick mentioned a “coke dealer” wanted for debt and gave ‘Person A’ the dealer’s name. He also inquired about a vehicle at her work, involving a matter under investigation, which seemed improper.
Messages touched on extradition, with Fitzpatrick writing that “JM is opposing extradition” and “our pal” agreed to “coming home.” He sent ‘Person A’ a photo of the person being extradited, and she joked about his weight loss, while Fitzpatrick joked about his likely cockroach diet.
Fitzpatrick told her of a man “locked up” with an “encrypted phone,” which police unlocked. He said it held instructions from “JM” and the man would face a drug charge soon, adding that the man threatened suicide.
They shared a Daily Mail article, and Fitzpatrick asked her to guess a “Cleveland man.” “He’s f***ed now,” she responded. The public expects better officer behavior, and there was no policing purpose for his actions.
Fitzpatrick allegedly breached a surveillance operation involving an individual named ‘NE’, who was allegedly “compromised” early on. He was told to avoid Thornaby to prevent recognition, according to reports.
He entered the Lanehouse Road area after 9:40 pm, breaching his instructions and reportedly ignoring orders starting at 5 pm.
Police seized devices at his home on September 29, 2020, including phones, laptops, and storage. They found a large amount of police information, including names, numbers, photos, and data on undercover officers.
Fitzpatrick allegedly emailed details on Operation Spoonbill from his work to his personal email, likely violating protocol.
Officers found drugs at Fitzpatrick’s home in 2020. A bag had medications, needles, and syringes. It contained testosterone which requires a prescription. Steroid use impacts mood, causing anger. Possessing steroids breaks police rules.
Fitzpatrick admitted to owning the steroids, saying he bought them years earlier for weight loss and forgot about them.
Fitzpatrick gave a full answer to the claims, agreeing with some parts of the statements and disagreeing with others. He denies that this is gross misconduct overall.
Lance Kennedy used helicopters to import cocaine, making Operation Spoonbill very long and complex. Many criminals faced over 260 years in jail.
The operation revealed drug drops via helicopter, exposing key underworld figures and large drug cash. Jonathon Moorby’s activities triggered the probe, linking to gangster Lance Kennedy.
Moorby was extradited from Thailand in 2021 and jailed for 14 years. Kennedy received over 18 years’ jail in July 2019, and other senior members were also jailed.