[Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales]It's a little confusing but it seems South Wales Police Officer Nicholas Peter Linfield and his wife Caroline were at the police station to tell police that Officer Linfield should have been arrested instead of his wife during an EARLIER slapping incident.
Very interesting to us here in the United States that there would be an openness about the officer's ongoing, potentially dangerous, mental health diagnosis.
To those viewing this from the UK, please see this recent post and SPREAD THE WORD:
POLICE OFFICER FINED FOR ASSAULTING HIS WIFE
WalesOnline, Western Mail
by Carys Hepworth
Apr 9 2011
A POLICE officer was fined yesterday after assaulting his wife in a police station and shouting “she’s no lady, she’s my wife”.
Nicholas Peter Linfield, 39, assaulted his wife of five years, Caroline, in Bridgend Police Station reception at 8.20pm on October 15, as she tried to complain about the way police handled an incident in which he slapped her.
Linfield, of Moorlands Road, Bridgend, became “agitated” as his wife spoke to the counter clerk, interrupting her, swearing and shouting abuse. When the clerk asked him to “let the lady speak”, he responded: “She’s no lady, she’s my wife,” Bridgend Magistrates’ Court heard.
Linfield, a police officer who has bipolar condition and is on sick leave, said he “didn’t think he would be arrested” for the incident, the court heard.
Mrs Linfield said in a statement: “I took the defendant with me to help with the process for him to admit he should have been arrested and not me. We asked to speak to the duty inspector and we were waiting 10 or 15 minutes and it’s fair to say he was agitated and getting cross, raising his voice.
“While still talking to the counter clerk he pushed me with both open hands to my upper body causing me to move back. He exchanged words with the clerk who was saying ‘don’t do that again’ and she left. The next thing I remember, a female arrived and was trying to calm me down, then another male officer arrived.”
She added that his bipolar condition meant that, on occasion, he no longer appeared to be the affectionate and respectful man she had married.
“He slapped me on October 13, which was the first time it has been physical,” she added.
Deena Loynton, prosecuting, said: “He is a police officer, but he was not on duty. He had been off work for some time.”
Gayle Stanley, defending, said Mrs Linfield had later withdrawn her complaint, saying she no longer wished to attend court or assist police any further.
“You’re dealing with a push, that’s all it is. He was in a vicinity which I would submit lowers his culpability, he was not at home, and there were no injuries, and he has no previous convictions,” said Miss Stanley.
Linfield had previously pleaded not guilty to assault by beating but changed his plea to guilty. He was fined £300 plus £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge. [
[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety international united kingdom politics]
This is one prime example of why it is very important to include psychological tests in the police recruitment process. People who have mental issues can become a police force and in the end become an embarrassment to the entire force.
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