‘Britain's sexiest police officer' cleared of gross misconduct over texts
The police watchdog concluded that there was no evidence of gross misconduct by Jim Colwell, the former acting chief constable of the Devon and Cornwall force.
He could still face misconduct proceedings for potentially breaching the force's 'notifiable associations policy'.
In November, Mr Colwell was suspended for alleged professional standards breaches over claims that he used his work mobile phone to exchange messages of a 'personal nature'.
But the Independent Office for Police Misconduct (IOPC) said that Mr Colwell had no case to answer.
It also found that he did not breach standards in his handling of a force disciplinary matter, but concluded he did have a case to answer for 'a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy'.
Mr Colwell was branded Britain's sexiest police officer on social media when he was promoted the rank of chief superintendent in 2016.
'We found no evidence'
The IOPC said of its investigation: 'Overall we found no evidence to determine any gross misconduct, or any breach of professional standards for honesty and integrity.
'We did decide, the now-deputy chief constable, has a case to answer for misconduct in respect of a potential breach of the force's notifiable associations policy.
'In our opinion there was sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable misconduct tribunal could find that his actions breached standards of professional behaviour for order and instructions, and conduct.'
In this regard, it said that a future misconduct hearing was to be arranged by the chief constable of Essex Police, as the delegated authority, 'to determine whether misconduct is proven and any outcome'.
Devon and Cornwall Police said that Mr Colwell's suspension had been lifted with immediate effect, but he would not return to normal duties until the conclusion of a further misconduct process.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall said that it was pleased the IOPC had 'moved swiftly to undertake their part of the investigation'.
It added: 'The matter will now progress through the police misconduct processes within Devon and Cornwall Police.
'It is now for the chief constable to oversee these processes.'
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