HCP Misconduct hearings are held to present the facts of the case to a panel of three independent adjudicators and to allow HCP-authorised supers to give an explanation of their conduct and the circumstances surrounding the allegation. Witnesses may also be called to be give evidence. The purpose is to show that the HCP disciplinary system is open, transparent and demonstrate that the authorities do hold HCP-authorised supers that breach the Standards of Professional Behaviour, or those that are found guilty of misconduct, accountable for their actions.
This is not a criminal court and punishment is limited to a period of suspension or withdrawal of HCP status though any evidence of a criminal nature uncovered during a HCP Misconduct hearing may result in separate criminal proceedings if the Crown Prosecution Service elects to do so.
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The investigating officer for this case is Superintendent Julia Cunningham (CI-5)
The allegations against Chrono are:
Failure to retain/hand over evidence relevant to a crime – (handgun removed from the hands of an unregistered individual – one Jack O’Connell aka “Disunity Jack”)
Failure to arrest a suspected criminal – Jack O’Connell aka “Disunity Jack” wanted for questioning for terrorist activities
Failure to report a crime/ carry out an arrest – relting to the attempted discharge of a firearm in a public place by Jack O’Connell aka “Disunity Jack”
Failure to report a known criminal to the Police and/or failing to carry out an adequate attempt to arrest said individual – Chelsea Lincoln aka “Death Metal”
Behaviour unbecoming of a HCP-authorised Super – abhorrent behaviour resulting from chronic alcoholism whilst on HCP duties.
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Each of them entered the HCP building in London alone. Chrono took his seat as first, Young Sam entered and then Banshee or Mother Weirdigan as she called herself this time.
In each case the questions asked of them by a stern Superintendent Cunningham were nearly the same…
“Whilst carrying out your HCP duties did you at any time observe any actions of Chrono that broke the law?”
Young Sam explained that he hadn’t due to being busy trying to calm down Ajax and Mary stated that she had been busy dealing with the crowd and how both of them had failed to see what happened between Chrono and Disunity Jack or his subsequent release or escape.
They were thanked for their testimonies and allowed to leave the stand.
Then Chrono was called to give evidence. The questions started off about Death Metal and whether he’d met her during the rioting – he explained he’d seen someone that could have been her in the crowd the first day but this wasn’t confirmed until the steel rose turned up. His explanation that he had asked for a date from her, a known criminal with psychopathic tendencies didn’t go down well but that was their problem…
One of the panel did ask him if he had been drinking prior to coming here today and his facetious reply clearly didn’t exactly endear him to that panel member.
Did he arrange any contact between Death Metal and Disunity Jack? No.
Did he have reason to suspect any involvement by her in Mr Vandam’s death? No, as far as he was aware his death was an accident due to a faulty lift and Vandam was known for using substandard equipment and penny-savings on quality. As far as he was concerned that was all there was to it.
Even Superintendent Cunningham had to reluctantly accept that there was no foundation in that charge and asked for it to be removed.
She then went on to discuss what happened to Disunity Jack’s gun… He admitted taking it when he disarmed him and offered to hand it over here and now – he accepted it was evidence but given that the Police were acting strangely and unlawfully at that point in time who could he trust to hand it over to?
Yes he reluctantly accepted that he could have done so before now and no, alcohol hadn’t played a part in that decision.
Superintendent Cunningham then went on to ask why he hadn’t arrested Disunity Jack when he’d grappled him to the ground.
His explanation that he was no longer a risk didn’t play well with Cunningham but the panel members understood as active HCP operatives themselves that Disunity Jack seemed to be responsible for the rioting and getting him away from the area by any means necessary, including releasing him, had resulted in ending the rioting.
Chrono didn’t like the accusation from Cunningham that perhaps money or favours were “exchanged” for his release but as there was no evidence to substantiate the accusation it carried no weight.
He did notice his argument that he wasn’t a police officer and it wasn’t his job to carry out an arrest failed to carry any weight with the panel members and he wished that he’d done some research before now into what being HCP certified actually meant on this world. It’s not like they had anything like this back on his version of Earth…
The fact that he got paid to carry out HCP duties hadn’t registered with him that the payment also carried with it legal obligations that he’d never actually bothered to learn.
Finally they got on to his alcohol use – was he an alcoholic? No!
Again the original panel member picked up on that and questioned him about his consumption on or during patrols. He argued that he wasn’t an alcoholic and though they eventually accepted his arguments (possibly due to a lack of solid evidence to the contrary), he was sure that a couple of the panel members weren’t convinced…
The panel decision in the end was that he was not guilty of the charges of misconduct but that his behaviour (and possible drinking whilst on ‘duty’) hadn’t been of the highest standard and that his future actions should be observed (whatever that meant)…
Superhero Adventures, UK Style 