"I know what you're thinking, punk. You're thinking "Did he fire six shots or only five?"...'

"Now to tell you the truth, I've forgotten myself..."

Norfolk police are facing questions after it emerged the force allowed an officer to drive fast response vehicles and carry a firearm despite him having been diagnosed with amnesia for a decade.

I really should be shocked but...well. 

PC Karl Warren first suffered from memory loss while working for Norfolk Constabulary in 2012. He told senior officers of his condition at the time but was allowed to remain in his role and later became an officer with the roads and armed policing team.

This came to light when he drove into the back of a civilian's car at 50mph. And didn't stop. 

The Audi motorist pulled over at the earliest opportunity, but the police car carried on without stopping.

He wasn't single crewed. So was his fellow cop also an amnesic? Are all cops now amnesiacs? 

The misconduct panel, which heard evidence over two days, dismissed the charge of misconduct, saying they had no reason to contradict a medical diagnosis that he was suffering from a form of epilepsy that left him “completely unaware of his surroundings”.

And his fellow cop, unbelievably, only got a written warning! 

Following a separate hearing in October, PC Hargrave was given a written warning for not challenging PC Warren at the time and not reporting the incident immediately.

And now it's all out in the open, someone finally came to their senses. 

Mr Banham said despite being cleared of misconduct PC Warren had effectively lost his career and was still suffering seizures requirement strong medication. “The officer has been through hell. He's been through diagnosis. He's no longer carrying [firearms] and he's no longer driving.,” he said.

"His life has been hugely affected.”

If he's not guilty of misconduct, whoever hired him certainly is. 

H/T: Dave Ward via email