Dyslexic Cop Sues Police for Disability Discrimination

0:00On March 21st, a police officer with dyslexia has sued Avon and Somerset police for disability discrimination after they moved him to desk duties. PC Lee Umpelby, an 18-year veteran and former dog handler, claims the administrative work overwhelms him due to his condition and depression. This file is an incident in May 2023 when he ordered a breathalyzer test on his ex-boss suspecting drink driving. Here this week, details emerged from the case where Umpelby tailed the sergeant's car for five miles before calling in traffic officers. The test came back negative, but a misconduct carrying the next year cleared him, finding he genuinely believed his manager was over the limit and, describing him as a bully. Umpelby has faced mental health challenges before, including time off for anxiety and depression in 2016, and he links recent issues to, workplace stress. As a dog handler, paperwork was minimal, so he never sought adjustments until suspended in 2023 and assigned home-based admin tasks, like emails and reports, the tribunal ruled

1:05on January 27th that Umpelby's dyslexia qualifies him as disabled under the Equality Act, noting it hinders quick writing and processing despite average intellect. They also found his depression, starting January 2024, substantially affects daily activities like concentration and stress management. Now the case moves forward, with Umpelby arguing the force failed to make reasonable changes for his roles, highlighting tensions between frontline, skills and office demands in policing.