Cop given final warning after failing to put away taser in minicab ride

A cop has been given a final warning after failing to put away his taser when he leapt into a passing minicab while chasing a suspect.

PC Karl Bassom, based on the Central West command unit, was proven to have breached Standards of Professional Behaviour.

PC Bassom was involved in a foot chase with a man who was resisting arrest in the early hours of March 9 last year.

During the chase PC Bassom unholstered his Taser and flagged down a passing occupied private hire vehicle to try and catch up with the man.

During this journey he did not put his Taser back in its holster.

The chase ended up on the Thames footpath where the officer discharged his Taser a number of times and challenged the man, who then fell to his knees and went into the river where he was again tasered.

PC Bassom also provided inaccurate information to colleagues at the scene and in his write-up of the events of that day.

The panel found gross misconduct for use of force and discreditable conduct.