Hero cop's widow slams police chief's 'highly inappropriate sex jibe' after line of duty killing

Former chairman of the Police Federation PC John Apter faces multiple accounts of gross misconduct, including allegedly making sexual remarks about Lissie Harper

The grieving widow of a PC who was killed in the line of duty hit out at the former chairman of the Police Federation for making a sexually suggestive comment about comforting her, a misconduct panel heard.

Lissie Harper, the wife of late PC Andrew Harper, said it was 'highly inappropriate' of PC John Apter to allegedly say "I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room". Mrs Harper also suggested that the police leader abused his senior position by making the remark, for which he faces gross misconduct charges.

PC Apter - then-head of the police’s rank-and-file union - allegedly made the comment about Mrs Harper to colleagues when she came to collect a posthumous award on behalf of her husband. PC Apter is also accused of groping a much-younger constable's bottom on a police night out and telling a pregnant colleague 'maybe you'll get a bum now'.

An investigation was launched by the IOPC and he has been brought before a nine-day Hampshire Constabulary gross misconduct hearing at the force's HQ in Eastleigh. On Tuesday, the hearing was told Mrs Harper attended an awards ceremony at the Annual Roads Policing Conference in January 2020 to collect an award on behalf of her husband PC Harper, 28.

PC Harper, of Thames Valley Police, died five months before the ceremony when he was dragged to his death by three teenagers in a getaway car. PC Apter gave a speech at the ceremony and handed Mrs Harper the posthumous award.

Barrister Cecily White, representing Hampshire Constabulary, said the night before the ceremony PC Apter made a sexual remark about Mrs Harper to colleagues. Ms White said: "It was about the widow of PC Andrew Harper, who was killed in the line of duty.

"His widow, Lissie Harper, was due to attend an awards ceremony to accept a posthumous award on behalf of her husband. In the context of a discussion about her attending the event, which would have been quite stressful for her, he said 'I'd like to comfort her in my hotel room', with an obvious sexual connotation."

Now, the panel has heard Mrs Harper criticised the alleged comment. Mrs Harper, upon being told about the comment, said that if PC Apter did make the remark it was "highly inappropriate from someone in that position".

Ms White added: "It was a bereaved widow who was accepting a posthumous award." Mrs Harper has not been called to give evidence at the hearing. PC Apter is also accused of groping a young constable's bottom on a night out before the Police Bravery Awards in London in December 2021.

He is said to have groped her and whispered in her ear, "is that OK?" On Tuesday Ms White said the incident happened after PC Apter bought the woman, named only as Female A, drinks in an apparent attempt to get her drunk.

Ms White said: "PC Apter darted over to the table and gestured for Female A to move along the bench where she was sitting so he could sit next to her. She reluctantly shuffled down to let him sit next to her.

"As she stands up to shuffle, it's alleged tat he placed his right hand on her right bottom cheek and kept it there. She said he moved his head towards her ear and whispers 'is that OK?'" PC Apter is also accused of telling a pregnant colleague in the Police Federation that 'maybe you'll get a bum now'.

Now-retired PC Apter, who enjoyed a 30 year career in policing, was chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales from 2018 to 2021. The association represents the interests of over 130,000 rank and file officers.

The hearing continues.