Force criticised over officer suicide failings
The family of an officer who killed himself after being arrested on suspicion of owning indecent images has criticised his force for not telling them he had been bailed.
The family of an officer who killed himself after being arrested on suspicion of owning indecent images has criticised his force for not telling them he had been bailed.
Police Constable Kevin Ellis committed suicide in 2013 hours after being taken into custody for allegedly possessing indecent images.
PC Ellis was released on bail and driven to his parents home in Castleford, but left the car en route, claiming that he would walk the rest of the way to clear his head.
His body was discovered the next day in the grounds of a nearby secondary school.
An inquest has now heard that his father, Peter Ellis, blames West Yorkshire Police for failing his son.
Mr Ellis, a former officer himself, told Wakefield Coroners Court that he and his wife were not informed their son had been arrested or bailed.
He said: Had I known of Kevins arrest and that he was being bailed, I would have certainly collected from the police.
He added that PC Ellis would have known of the gravity of the allegations against him, and should have been identified as being at high risk of harming himself.
Chief Superintendent Dickie Whitehead conceded that West Yorkshire Police could have done more to protect PC Ellis.
His 77-page review of the incident found the force failed to check the suitability of PC Ellis parents house as a bail address.
It also noted that correct procedures might have been ignored as both PC Ellis and his father had served with the police.
However, Chief Supt Whitehead added that there was no indication PC Ellis was at risk of harming himself.
The hearing continues.