Former Police Inspector Dies After Falling from M60 Bridge Following Misconduct Case
A former police inspector has died after falling from a motorway bridge, following his resignation from the force over allegations of sending 'sexist and objectifying' messages about a female officer.
Details of the Incident and Misconduct Allegations
Jonathan Ezard, known as Jon to his family and friends, passed away after falling from Barton Bridge over the M60 in Salford on March 31. The circumstances surrounding his death are not considered suspicious, and an inquest is expected to open in due course at Bolton Coroners' Court.
Mr Ezard had resigned from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) ahead of misconduct proceedings last year. The allegations involved him sending messages deemed 'misogynistic, degrading and disrespectful' about a female officer, as well as sharing images of her with an ex-colleague. A misconduct hearing concluded that he would have been dismissed had he not already left his role.
Family and Colleague Reactions
In a statement, Mr Ezard's family expressed devastation over his passing, describing him as a devoted husband, loving father, and dedicated public servant. They criticized the handling of his misconduct case, stating that the allegation was 'unfairly characterised, pursued and decided upon,' which they believe deeply affected him. They also noted that his appeal against the decision was never scheduled for a hearing.
Former colleagues have spoken out with anger and sorrow. One colleague said, 'I'm angry that yet another colleague felt there was no other option available to him,' while another defended Mr Ezard, insisting the messages were not misogynistic and praising his service. They described him as a 'dedicated police officer... admired by many of those he led,' who fell 'foul of today's increasingly imbalanced misconduct and cut throat dismissal system.'
Background and Career
Jonathan Ezard was an experienced officer with many years of service, receiving numerous awards and commendations. He played a key role in Operation Venture, launched in 2022 to tackle violence and knife crime, and was heavily involved in efforts to combat organised crime. In 2013, he undertook a trek across the Sahara, raising almost £10,000 in memory of murdered PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.
Following his resignation, Mr Ezard found employment at Amazon but was recently made redundant. Sources indicated he struggled after leaving GMP but appeared to be doing well in his new job prior to his redundancy.
Official Responses
GMP issued a statement expressing deep sadness over Mr Ezard's death and offering support to his family and affected colleagues. The force stated it will assist the coronial investigation to help his loved ones get answers. The Greater Manchester Police Federation also conveyed its sadness and is liaising with the family.
The misconduct hearing, led by GMP's chief resources officer Lee Rawlinson, found that Mr Ezard's actions amounted to gross misconduct. Mr Ezard accepted his conduct was 'sexist, objectifying, inappropriate and wrong' but denied it was gross misconduct. He was added to the College of Policing's 'Barred List,' preventing future employment in policing.
Mr Rawlinson noted that while Mr Ezard acknowledged his behaviour objectified women and was misogynistic, there was no evidence of hatred towards women. The case has sparked broader discussions about police misconduct procedures and their impact on officers' mental health.
