A careless constable whose speeding led to the death of a popular woman will not lose his police pension.
Andrew McKenna was jailed for careless driving and, this week, told he would never work in policing again.
He had retired while under investigation for the crash that killed Linda Meagor - but was still the subject of a misconduct hearing on Thursday.
The panel that oversaw the Merseyside Police disciplinary meeting ruled McKenna was guilty of gross misconduct and, had he still been a serving officer, would have been dismissed without notice.
Having retired in late 2018, months after the tragic Liverpool city centre crash, that punishment was not open to force chiefs.
Their ruling does mean the 57-year-old, of Seddon Road in Garston, will never be able to get a job in policing again.
The dad-of-one will, however, keep his pension.
Officers can be stripped of their pensions even if they are no longer serving.
However, police guidance states it can only be forfeited "where a criminal offence has been committed in connection with a person’s service as a member of a police force and the Home Secretary has certified that this was gravely injurious to the interests of the state, or liable to lead to the serious loss of confidence in the public service".
For an officer to be stripped of their pension, a chief constable has to write to the force's police and crime commissioner, who has to seek the permission of the Home Secretary.
A maximum of 65% of a pension can be removed, because the the remaining 35% is likely to be made up of the officer's own contributions.
McKenna, who was off-duty at the time of the crash, initially denied wrongdoing.
But he eventually admitted causing death by careless driving and was jailed for eight months in February of this year.
He was also banned from driving for two years and four months.
Liverpool Crown Court heard city council worker Ms Meagor crossed The Strand while the pedestrian crossing light was red on the evening of February 15, 2018.
Simon Parry, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court experts found McKenna was travelling at an estimated average speed of 57mph between Mann Island and the point of impact.
The speed limit on that section of road is 30mph.
Mr Parry said McKenna's car slowed just before the collision and, when he hit Ms Meagor, he was doing around 28mph.
The prosecutor, who said McKenna braked to avoid the crash, added: "It's right to say he reacted as soon as he could."
However, he said: "Had he been travelling at the posted speed limit of 30mph the expert concluded he would have been able to stop approximately 25m prior to the point of impact.
"His decision the prosecution say ultimately to drive at almost twice the posted speed limit is the element of careless driving in this case."
At McKenna's sentencing, David James, defending, said it was "tragic and heart wrenching" and his client offered his condolences to Ms Meagor's family and friends.
He said he was the dedicated officer for Toxteth during the 2011 riots and his work contributed to a 20% reduction in crime in the area.
Mr James said remorseful McKenna underwent trauma counselling and added: "Every time he looks in the mirror he recalls Ms Meagor."
Following McKenna's dismissal, Chief Superintendent Peter Costello, head of the force’s Professional Standards Department, said: "While Andrew McKenna retired from the force in 2018, it was important to show that the manner of his driving that day, and its tragic consequences, would have led to his instant dismissal should he have still been employed.
"It also means he cannot apply to be a police employee here or anywhere else.
"We demand the highest possible standards from all our officers and staff at all times, on and off duty. The public quite rightly have high expectations of our officers and Merseyside Police is committed to ensuring we meet those expectations.
"When anyone employed by Merseyside Police falls below those standards, we will always investigate and act appropriately to ensure the public can continue to have the utmost confidence in the force.
"The vast majority of our officers do an exemplary job and serve our communities with compassion, integrity and professionalism. On 15 February 2018, Con McKenna's conduct fell far below these standards and as a result of his actions he will not be employed by the police again."
