# Police Sacked for Excessive Force on Deceased Amputee

> Two police officers were dismissed after using excessive force on a 92-year-old amputee who later died.
- Title: Police Sacked for Excessive Force on Deceased Amputee
- Summary: Two police officers were dismissed after using excessive force on a 92-year-old amputee who later died. PCs Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto were sacked for…
- Keywords: pc stephen smith, pc rachel comotto, claire reid, saskatchewan police, independent office for police conduct, iopc, care home, amputee, excessive force, taser, pepper spray, covid-19
- Source: LADbible — https://ladbible.com/news/uk-news/police-who-pepper-sprayed-tasered-amputee-sacked-462646-20261006
- Published: 2026-10-06T20:47:27.347+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pc stephen smith, pc rachel comotto, claire reid, saskatchewan police, independent office for police conduct, iopc, care home, amputee, excessive force, taser, pepper spray, covid-19
## Police Officers Sacked
Two police officers were dismissed for using excessive force on a 92-year-old amputee who later died.
## Incident at Care Home
PCs Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto responded to a care home in St Leonards, East Sussex on June 21 2022 after a report of resident Donald Burgess holding a knife.
## Forced Actions on Donald
Police bodycam footage showed officers using Pava spray, striking with a baton, and tasing Donald who was wheelchair-bound and holding a cutlery knife.
## IOPC Ruling
The Independent Office for Police Conduct ruled both officers used excessive force within a minute-and-a-half of entering the room.
## Facebook Comment
PC Comotto shared a Facebook comment saying, 'We all know what happens in care homes' with a lightning bolt emoji after the incident.

> We all know what happens in care homes
## Donald's Death
Donald was hospitalized after the incident, contracted Covid-19, and died 22 days later at age 93.
## Consequences
Both officers were banned from policing and their actions damaged public trust in law enforcement.
## Key takeaway

PCs Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto were sacked for excessive force after tasing and pepper-spraying a 92-year-old amputee who died 22 days later from complications.