Police officers will not face a misconduct hearing after complaints of a 'racist codeword' being used during the investigation surrounding an injured teenager while he lay dying in hospital.
On August 4, 2022, 19-year-old Sheldon Lewcock was riding an electric bike on Pierce's Hill, Tilehurst, when he was involved in a crash with a van.
Sheldon was rushed to John Radcliffe Hospital where he was monitored, until he sadly passed away days later on August 9.
READ MORE: Sheldon Lewcock's mum 'wants answers' after investigation goes quiet
Soon after these events, Thames Valley Police launched a murder investigation and three men and a boy were arrested following the incident.
However, days later the charges were dropped.
The murder investigation ended on August 17, 2022, and the case was handed over to the Joint Operations Roads Policing Serious Collision Investigation Unit.
Since then a Newbury man has appeared in court charged with driving a vehicle involved in a road accident and failing to report that accident as well as one count of driving without third-party insurance.
READ MORE: Sheldon Lewcock death: Newbury driver appears in court
Meanwhile, a separate investigation was launched after Sheldon's mother, Angela Lewcock, reported misconduct amongst officers whilst her son lay in hospital.
Angela Lewcock told the Chronicle: "When my son got hit they had a password for him at John Radcliffe Hospital because it was treated as an attempted murder investigation.
"His password was banana.
"My son is lying there in a critical condition fighting for his life and they have made a joke out of giving him the password banana.
"My son was a mixed race child but we're a white family - but he was my son - he wasn't anything different."
Angela lodged a complaint against Thames Valley Police, stating that the use of banana was "clearly racist".
Speaking to BBC Berkshire this week, Angela said: "I really don't think banana should be used as a password or given to any child at all for anything."
Looking back, Angela worries the police were stood laughing over Sheldon as he laid in hospital.
An investigation launched by the police force has since decided that police officers did not breach misconduct regulations.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “We received a complaint on January 25, 2023, relating to the password which was used at the hospital.
“Our Professional Standards Department investigated the complaint but there was no misconduct found, which the complainant was notified of on May 25.
“Following the complaint, we are reviewing our procedures.”
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