Two officers sacked after Taser used on 92-year-old amputee in care home

Two serving police constables have been dismissed after using a Taser on a 92-year-old amputee in a care home, a disciplinary hearing and police watchdog findings have concluded.

The disciplinary process determined the officers used unnecessary force when dealing with the elderly man, the BBC reported. The independent police watchdog also said the pair were sacked for gross misconduct, according to Sky News.

What happened

Multiple outlets reported that the incident took place inside a care home. The victim was a 92-year-old amputee identified by the BBC as Donald Burgess. The Independent reported the incident occurred in June 2022.

There is disagreement in reports about other tactics used alongside the Taser. The BBC said a baton was used; Sky News said pepper spray was deployed. Inevitable differences in the accounts are noted here: the two sources differ on whether a baton or pepper spray was used in addition to the Taser.

Disciplinary outcome and watchdog role

Both officers were found to have committed gross misconduct and were dismissed following the disciplinary hearing, according to Sky News and the BBC. The hearing concluded their use of force was unnecessary in the circumstances, leading to the sacking.

Why it matters

The case highlights scrutiny of police use of force, particularly in vulnerable settings such as care homes and when dealing with very elderly or disabled people. Independent oversight bodies and disciplinary panels are central to assessing whether police actions meet legal and policy standards, and dismissals in such cases can prompt reviews of training, equipment use and safeguards for vulnerable people.

What details remain unclear

Reports agree on the core outcome — two officers were dismissed after a Taser was used on a 92-year-old amputee in a care home — but differ on some specifics. Only the BBC named the victim as Donald Burgess, and only the Independent reported the incident date as June 2022. The BBC and Sky differ on whether a baton or pepper spray was also used.

Next steps

The publications did not report further information about any criminal charges, appeals by the officers, or whether the care home or police force involved has announced policy changes or internal reviews. Those are among the questions that may be addressed in later reporting or official statements.

For now, the disciplinary findings and the watchdog’s description of gross misconduct mark the immediate consequences for the two officers involved in the incident.