Dawn Kershaw

The appellant police officer appealed findings of guilt and a penalty of dismissal imposed by a Hearing Officer for discreditable conduct, deceit, and insubordination arising from an unlawful and intrusive search of a female detainee.

The appellant argued the Hearing Officer erred in credibility assessments, was biased, improperly denied an adjournment, and imposed an unfit penalty.

The Commission dismissed the appeal, finding no palpable and overriding error in the credibility findings, no evidence of bias, and that the penalty of dismissal was reasonable given the seriousness of the misconduct, which also resulted in a criminal conviction for sexual assault.