Two police officers linked to the death of Sheku Bayoh are to be allowed to retire early on medical grounds.
PC Nicole Short and PC Alan Paton took their fight to the Court of Session after the Scottish Police Authority refused them permission to stand down.
Both officers were left traumatised following the controversial arrest of Bayoh, 31, in Kirkcaldy on May 3, 2015.
They had been called to the Templehall area of the town after reports of a man behaving erratically with a knife.
PC Short, who has nine years service, said she feared “a murder was about to take place”. Both officers have been off long-term sick since and had asked to retire.
Cop feared custody death victim Sheku Bayoh would kill someone during fatal confrontation
Short, 32, was suffering from PTSD and was “permanently disabled from undertaking the ordinary duties of a police officer”.
Paton, 44, who has served for 17-years has reportedly received extensive psychological counselling.The SPA refused their application until it was known if either of the two would face criminal proceedings following the incident.
David Kennedy, of the Scottish Police federation, said last night: “We welcome the decision by the SPA, which makes clear these officers suffered significant injury in the execution of their duties and qualify to retire on grounds of ill-health.”
Aamer Anwar, solicitor for Sheku’s family, said: “Constables Short and Paton are now able to evade potential disciplinary proceedings, are unlikely to face criminal prosecution – but if they think Sheku’s life was so cheap that his family would walk away, they are mistaken.”
