Essex officer fired for offensive chants at Liverpool vs Chelsea. He received a ban and a fine.
Sergeant Tyler Coppin was found guilty after stewards heard him chanting at the game and ejected him from the stadium. Merseyside police subsequently arrested him. This incident occurred on October 20th. He received a three-year ban from attending games and admitted to causing alarm, leading to a £645 fine in December.
The chants centered around past tragedies involving a soccer club, a practice often referred to as “tragedy chanting.”
Essex Police fired Mr. Coppin following a hearing, citing breaches of rules concerning honesty and respect. His actions were deemed detrimental to the police’s image. He was immediately terminated and placed on a blacklist, preventing him from future employment in law enforcement.
The police chief acknowledged Mr. Coppin’s remorse and past good record. However, his actions damaged public trust, necessitating his dismissal.
The chief stated that the ex-sergeant felt remorseful and might not have fully understood the impact of his actions. Nevertheless, he was convicted of a crime. The chief emphasized the importance of trust and the obligation of police officers to uphold the law.