Amelia Shearer, 24, was found guilty of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing this week following the incident which took place at the York branch of Urban Outfitters. Shearer received a final written warning that will last five years. Chief Constable Mark Webster of Cleveland Police, which Shearer joined as a junior officer in 2019, expressed concern at the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, saying Shearer’s actions were “inconsistent” with the force’s expectations of officers and that the “legal options” were being explored. Webster said: “Officers must uphold the highest standards of conduct and exemplify our values, whether on or off duty. This officer’s actions are inconsistent with my expectations of those who serve in Cleveland and do not live up to their role, which other officers uphold with pride and integrity. “The Cleveland Police Standards and Ethics Division is preparing evidence for misconduct hearings. Evidence is heard and decided by a panel chaired by an independent, legally qualified chairman. “The misconduct process is put in place to protect our standards and ensure public confidence in policing, so we are concerned about the outcome set at yesterday’s hearing. We are now considering the legal options available to us.” The incident, which happened in September, happened after Shearer and a friend had several drinks at a bottomless brunch, before having more drinks at another venue. The hearing heard evidence from an Urban Outfitters employee who was asked by Shearer if the store had toilets. She was told “no” and immediately entered a booth without trying on clothes. The clerk radioed his manager, and when Shearer came out of the cubicle, they saw a pool of urine on the floor. Although she quickly left the store, Shearer was later tracked down in the city by police. Shearer vehemently denied urinating but admitted she and her friend were “loud and ridiculous”. The store paid £492 to have the cabin professionally cleaned and the retailer’s nine salons had to be temporarily closed. Olivia Checa-Dover, the barrister representing the force, told the panel her findings that Shearer was dishonest meant she was now “inadequate” as an officer. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Shearer lied under oath, something that should be revealed to defense attorneys in any future investigations she conducts, Cheka-Dover said. Joan Smith, representing Shearer, had urged the panel to take the unusual step of not sacking her immediately, given her good reports of progress during her first year in the job. Smith said: “There is a place for her in the Cleveland Police and there is potential for her to flourish in this police force with the right guidance.” After deliberating for several hours Wednesday afternoon, the committee backed away from deciding that he should be fired immediately. Shearer, who studied for a master’s degree in criminal investigations before joining the force, cried when she heard the result.
