A newly appointed police officer has been dismissed after a fast-track hearing.
New Met Officer dismissed for punching colleague in face. Melissa Sanchez Marulanda, 29, attacked a colleague while off-duty, hitting them repeatedly in the face. A misconduct hearing concluded she had breached professional standards and acted with “discreditable conduct”.
Met Police received an emergency call last July and arrived at a property in Croydon, south London. Sanchez Marulanda was there with two other people, However when police tried to enter the property she attacked one of the officers.
She was arrested and suspended from duty. Later she was charged with assaulting an emergency worker. Attending Croydon Crown Court on 12th May she was handed a one year suspended prison sentence.
Chief Inspector Matt Cox, from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards said “Although PC Melissa Sanchez Marulanda was only weeks into her career as a Metropolitan Police officer, her behaviour displayed none of the qualities we expect in our officers. A lack of self-control, ill-discipline and a disregard for the law.
She pleaded guilty to assaulting a colleague, and has now had to face the consequences of her actions; and an end to her policing career.” Sanchez Marulanda will be added to the barred list of the College of Policing.