A police officer who Tasered a 92-year-old man in a care home just weeks before his death told a tribunal that he "wouldn't have done anything differently".
Vulnerable widower Donald Burgess was Tasered and pepper-sprayed during a confrontation with Pc Rachel Comotto and Pc Stephen Smith at the Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex. Bodycam footage caught the moment the elderly amputee screamed out in pain during the care home horror after he refused to put down a small dinner knife.
Officer's defence at misconduct hearing
A misconduct hearing has been launched into the incident and when Pc Smith was asked, by his own lawyer, if he would have done anything differently on reflection the cop replied "No, I don't think I would".
Pc Smith and Pc Comotto were cleared of assault following a trial in 2025. For the ongoing tribunal, it is alleged the pair used inappropriate force against a member of the public.
Care home incident details
In 2022, Pc Smith and Pc Comotto found one-legged Mr Burgess sitting in his wheelchair holding a dinner knife. He had been in his own room and was being monitored by two care home staff.
After asking care home staff to leave, the disciplinary panel was told the cops should have acted in a "compassionate" and considerate manner towards the vulnerable man. The misconduct hearing heard they instead massively "escalated the situation" and were confrontational and antagonistic towards the 92-year-old.
Bodycam footage caught the man holding the small knife as the two cops entered his room and Pc Smith saying: "Put it down mate. Come on, Donald, don’t be silly. We can solve it without having to resort to this... Do as you’re told."
Pc Smith also struck the pensioner with his baton before Pc Comotto deployed a 50,000-volt Taser at the elderly man, before they took the knife away.
Officer's evidence to tribunal
Smith, giving evidence to the hearing on Tuesday, claimed he did not know the 92-year-old was in a wheelchair before he used force against the man.
The police officer was asked by his lawyer, Denis Barry, why he did not take a more "softly softly" approach with the elderly man and Pc Smith replied: "I thought that would be the best option. I walk in, give that command. I was expecting the knife to be dropped."
The tribunal continues.
