Tragic Shropshire police sergeant was under investigation, inquest told
A popular Oswestry-based police sergeant was under investigation at the time he died in hospital, it was revealed at an inquest hearing.
Lee Andrew Johnson, a sergeant with West Mercia Police, died on February 13, 2016, after being found hanged in the Heddfan psychiatric unit at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
The 45-year-old, who was based in the Oswestry area, lived in Cilcain Road, Pantymwyn, near Mold, with his family. He was well-known for his Twitter account in which he mixed police appeals and news with snippets of humour.
At a pre-inquest hearing in Ruthin arrangements were made for a full hearing over two days in June.
Sergeant Johnson's family and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board were both legally represented at the hearing and John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, said he would invite the West Mercia Force to attend the full inquest even though the officer was off duty at the time of his death.
The coroner said there would be reference to the fact that Sergeant Johnson was being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, but added: "My provisional view is that it was not of any great consequence."
On the question of the scope of the inquest, Mr Gittins said he would be calling evidence about the health board's policies on observation of patients as well as the treatment and care the officer had received.
"It has been acknowledged that he had an issue regarding alcohol and I shall want to hear how the board deals with someone with such an issue in their care," he said.
Among the witnesses will be consultant psychiatrist Dr Stuart Porter, who was involved in the serious incident review carried out by the board following the tragedy.
The coroner decided that he would hear the inquest alone as it was not mandatory to sit with a jury because Sergeant Johnson was a voluntary patient at the time.
"I consider it would be better served by my sitting alone," he said.
