A police detective crashed who admitted a 100mph crash on the A1 whilst on his phone, failed to stop and lied about it afterwards, has been sacked.
On a second occasion Det Con Michael Chang used his PAVA spray on an innocent member of the public.
Chief Constable Nick Dean said: “The public should be able to trust that police officers will act professionally at all times.
“DC Chang’s actions on two occasions were completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We expect the highest standard of professionalism from our officers, but DC Chang’s conduct has been found to have fallen short of our expectations and in addition, the public would rightly expect that dismissal would be the consequence.”
At a four-day hearing at the East of England Arena and Events Centre in Peterborough, which concluded on Thursday (2 February), he was dismissed without notice.
Chang, 40, who was based at Huntingdon Police Station, was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in respect of authority respect and courtesy, orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.
He had been sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years in October 2021 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and possession of a firearm (his police issued PAVA spray).
He was also ordered to pay £5,300 fine and costs and disqualified from driving for 14 months.
The hearing had three allegations before them.
Allegation 1
On 30 March 2020, Chang drove an unmarked police vehicle dangerously, at speeds of and in excess of 100 mph and whilst using a mobile phone, resulting in a collision.
Additionally, Chang:
1: Drove the vehicle with emergency equipment activated in non-emergency circumstances
2: Failed to remain at the scene of the collision
3: Failed to notify his supervisor of the collision whilst on a call with her following the incident
4: Failed to report the collision to his control room
5: Failed to give a full and truthful account to a supervisor who dealt with the RTC procedure
6: Misled or lied to the court in respect of a piece of evidence in that he suggested his line manager told him to destroy a card containing witness details in a dishonest manner.
Chang pleaded guilty to dangerous driving during his trial at Northampton Crown Court.
Allegation 2
On 15 April 2020 after finishing work, Chang changed into his police uniform to bypass a queue at his local Tesco supermarket.
Chang did not wear PPE whilst in the supermarket.
Allegation 3
Further on 15 April 2020 and following Allegation 2, Chang whilst off-duty engaged with a member of the public during which he drew and used his PAVA spray.
“An innocent bystander was caught by the spray and suffered short term harmful effects,” the hearing was told.
“Chang also used his police vest and police-issue baton.
“He had no authorisation to be in possession of the PAVA spray.”
The hearing was told that Chang informed the attending duty sergeant that he was authorised to carry his kit off duty.
Chang informed another attending officer that he had his kit with him because he was moving between stations.
Chang pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of PAVA (section 5(1)(b) Firearms Act 1968) at Northampton Crown Court.
“The matters set out above amount to gross misconduct and are so serious as to justify dismissal,” the hearing was told.
Detective Constable Michael Chang was given a suspended sentence for the two incidents that happened within a few weeks of one another as lockdown began.
When he appeared at Northampton Crown Court, Chang, of Burton Latimer, had changed his plea to guilty towards the end of the trial.
