Miyazaki Prefecture has accepted a court ruling that found a link between the suicide of a police officer and power harassment, resulting in a compensation of approximately 29 million yen to the officer's family.
A court in Miyazaki Prefecture ruled that the suicide of a 31-year-old police officer in 2019 was a result of power harassment and excessive workload imposed by his superiors. The family of the deceased officer sought damages from the prefectural government, which was ordered to pay approximately 29 million yen. After the ruling from the Miyazaki District Court, the prefectural government decided not to appeal, thus finalizing the compensation amount. In a statement, the police chief expressed regret over the incident, which has brought attention to the issue of workplace harassment in law enforcement.
The court's decision on January 30 confirmed that the officer, who worked at the Hyuga Police Station, faced repeated harsh criticism from his supervisor regarding work mistakes, including comments that were deemed unnecessarily focused on the officer's age and mocked his dedication to language training. The court deemed such comments to exceed acceptable limits for professional guidance and acknowledged they contributed to the officer's mental health issues, specifically depression.
The ruling emphasizes the serious ramifications of workplace power harassment and the mental health effects caused by excessive workloads. It raises broader questions regarding workplace culture in the police force and the need for systemic changes to protect employees from harassment and ensure their well-being. The decision has potential implications not only for Miyazaki but also for other regions observing similar workplace dynamics.
