Cwmbran, Wales — A police officer has been dismissed for assaulting his former partner, an incident that occurred over a decade ago but only recently came to light. Dean Nocivelli, a police sergeant with Gwent Police, was terminated without notice after a misconduct panel found his actions constituted gross misconduct.
During the panel hearings, it was revealed that the assault took place during a night out in June 2010. After an evening of drinking, Nocivelli and his partner, referred to as Person A to protect her identity, returned home where an argument escalated. She alleged that Nocivelli struck her in the face, resulting in significant injuries that required medical attention.
Person A reported that following the incident, she found herself in a compromised state, with blood filling the bathtub and severe pain in her face. Despite her injuries, she initially refrained from reporting the assault, fearing the repercussions for Nocivelli, who was responsible for dispatching officers to domestic violence cases. It wasn’t until October 2023 that she felt compelled to disclose the abuse to police authorities.
The panel’s decision highlighted Person A’s credibility as a witness, noting that while Nocivelli denied any wrongdoing and claimed their injuries were a result of an accidental clash of heads, he could not provide a consistent account of the events. The hearing found his explanations to be implausible given his training as a police officer, which included conflict management and de-escalation skills.
Significantly, the panel considered previous incidents mentioned by Person A, which also suggested a pattern of aggressive behavior from Nocivelli. This included an incident where she woke up with a black eye, and another involving a fall associated with his presence. The panel concluded that these prior allegations supported claims of his propensity for aggression within their relationship.
Despite a lengthy time lapse since the incident, the panel deemed it essential to take action, especially considering Nocivelli’s subsequent role overseeing responses to domestic violence cases. They viewed this as a serious conflict of interest and an issue of public safety.
The panel acknowledged that while Nocivelli had served the police force without similar allegations in the intervening years, the nature of his actions warranted dismissal. In their closing, they stated that he displayed a conscious disregard for the consequences of domestic violence, both for his former partner and in the duties associated with his role.
Nocivelli has the right to appeal the panel’s decision, which he received at the conclusion of the five-day hearing. The case underscores a critical issue within law enforcement regarding accountability for officers involved in domestic abuse, highlighting the ongoing challenges in addressing such behavior within the ranks.