CHIEF constable Phil Gormley is at the centre of a live investigation by the body responsible for oversight of police in Scotland.
The Police Investigations & Review Commissioner last month launched a gross misconduct investigation into the Police Scotland chief which if proved could lead to him being fired.
It is understood the probe concerned an allegation of bullying from a fellow senior officer at Police Scotland.
Mr Gormley who became only the second Chief Constable since the Scottish police forces merged in 2013 had faced calls to step aside while under investigation.
Last week the watchdog ordered a review of complaints made about Mr Gormley and deputy chief constable Neil Richardson.
Allegations concerning negligence with information were made against both but neither complaint was upheld by the Scottish Police Authority (SPA).
But PIRC found the body did not handle the allegations reasonably and ordered the SPA to review its decisions and apologise to the man involved.
That controversy became another setback for the SPA at a time when its chairman, Andrew Flanagan, was criticised for clinging to his post despite announcing he would quit two months ago amid sustained criticism from MSPs over transparency and governance at the organisation. He had also faced allegations of bullying behaviour.
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