[Herald DB]
[Herald DB]

A married female police officer at a police box in Daegu was found through an internal audit to have carried on inappropriate relationships with two married male colleagues in succession, setting off a wave of controversy within the force.

A recent audit by the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed misconduct by Officer A, a female sergeant in her 30s, Officer B, an inspector in his 40s, and Officer C, a senior constable in his 40s — all assigned to the same police box — and disciplinary action was taken against all three, News1 reported Tuesday.

The investigation found that beginning in November last year, Sergeant A and Inspector B coordinated their shift and break schedules to slip away from their post without authorization. The two were found to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship in the rest room, overnight duty room, meeting room and patrol car at the police box.

Investigators also found evidence that the pair paid a cleaner to remove traces left on bedding at the police box.

The affair came to light in February when Sergeant A's husband discovered a secret chat room on his wife's social media account.

Sergeant A had also begun an inappropriate relationship with Senior Constable C, another married colleague at the same police box, starting in January — after her relationship with Inspector B had grown distant, the investigation found. The case has drawn attention as an instance of overlapping extramarital affairs.

Sergeant A's husband is also a serving police officer, and the spouses of both male officers implicated in the case are likewise active-duty officers, compounding the shock within the force.

The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency said it had imposed strict disciplinary measures, but the penalties have drawn criticism as too lenient: Sergeant A received a three-month suspension, Inspector B a two-month suspension, and Senior Constable C only a reprimand.


betterj@heraldcorp.com