'Disgust' at officer death

THE colleague of a police officer found dead in a river has claimed the force botched a search for him.

John Burke, 41, was reported missing when he failed to show for his nightshift on January 26. His wife raised the alarm but a search was reportedly not carried out until the next day - 20 hours after he was last seen.

By then, Mr Burke was found dead by a member of the public at the River Esk, Musselburgh.

A fellow police officer and friend reportedly said: "We are disgusted. If this had been handled properly John might still have been alive. For some reason they refused to search for him."