The gross misconduct hearing of the Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary has been adjourned to enable his team to decide whether to launch a judicial review.
Simon Byrne was suspended in August 2017 following an independent investigation into his conduct.
An allegation about the Chief Constable's conduct was made towards the end of 2016, which was referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and then passed back to the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner for a local investigation. Having considered the evidence, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane determined that there is a case to answer for gross misconduct and the matter was referred to an independently chaired gross misconduct hearing.
The hearing, which is being held in public, started on Monday 16th April, and was due to finish on Friday, 27th April, but has been adjourned until July 2nd.
A spokesperson for the office of the police and crime commissioner for Cheshire said: "The independent panel in the hearing of Simon Byrne has rejected the chief constable's application to have the hearing dismissed.
"The independent panel stated that there was no significant prejudice or lasting harm caused to CC Byrne. It was the panel's clear view that CC Byrne can have a fair hearing.
"However, chief constable Byrne's legal team has indicated that they intend to challenge the independent panel's decision via a judicial review, subject to them securing funding. Subject to the outcome of any judicial review proceedings, the case will reconvene on Monday 2 July 2018.
"It is unfortunate that witnesses, who have been waiting for a significant amount of time to give evidence, will have yet a further delay before they are able to tell their story."
Mr Byrne received the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished service or gallantry in June 2016.
His career began in 1982 on the beat in the Paddington and the St John's Wood area as a Metropolitan Police officer. Three years later, he transferred to Merseyside Police where he worked in uniform, CID and at Headquarters, and in 2002 he took the lead role as the police commander for policing Knowsley.
He transferred to Greater Manchester Police in 2009 as Deputy Chief Constable then returned to the Met in 2011 where he headed up the largest operational command in the country, running day-to-day policing in London.
In June 2014 Mr Byrne returned to his home county, to become Cheshire's Chief Constable.
Details of the charge can be viewed on the Police & Crime Commissioner's website.
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