Police have confirmed the latest retirement, which came just weeks after two other officers did likewise.
They are among a number of officers whose conduct is under scrutiny for how they dealt with Creswell, who came close to getting away with the murder of young showjumper Katie Simpson.
Her death in August 2020 was initially treated as a suicide, despite the PSNI being told of Creswell’s past convictions.
Creswell claimed he rescued Katie – younger sister of his partner Christina Simpson – from a suicide attempt, before placing her, unresponsive, into her own car and setting off to hospital.
He had in fact strangled Katie then staged a scene, making it appear she had taken her own life.
The PSNI believed Creswell’s false account, treating the death as suicide for months, despite others coming forward to tell officers about his violent and abusive history.
The full facts of what really happened remain unknown and hopes of establishing them were dashed when Creswell took his own life 24 hours into his murder trial in April last year.
Despite the PSNI being informed about Creswell’s propensity for violence and abuse, there was “a general lack of investigative mindset”, according to a later Police Ombudsman probe.
The report criticised the PSNI for assuming Ms Simpson’s injuries were self inflicted, despite “multiple reports from members of the public” that she had been the victim of controlling and coercive behaviour by Creswell.
Katie Simpson
Named Operation Gambart, it would be November 2024 before the details were partially made known.
Much remains withheld as three new complaints were submitted after the trial concluded and there is some overlap.
One complaint relates to an officer from the original investigation which the Police Ombudsman has stated “may potentially involve criminal misconduct”.
Another refers to several officers in the second investigation and centres on failure of duty.
Another, brought by a former victim of Creswell, was initially closed last year but has since been reopened after information disputing both the PSNI position and the Police Ombudsman’s original findings emerged.
Last month the PSNI confirmed two officers had retired while under investigation over the new complaints, coupled with two from the original complaint.
Now the number has climbed to five.
PSNI officers become eligible for retirement once they reach a set minimum age or complete the required years of service, in line with the rules of their pension scheme.
However, unlike in England and Wales, PSNI officers under investigation for serious wrongdoing can retire before the probes are completed.
In Northern Ireland, the only circumstance where a PSNI officer or staff member can be prevented from retiring while under investigation is if they are already suspended.
The PSNI was asked how many officers have retired or applied to retire while under investigation and of these how many were or are on sick leave.
They were also asked how many are suspended, have been removed from previous duties or are on sick-leave, since notified of investigation.
A spokesperson has now confirmed that three officers have retired while under investigation for the new complaints, and none have been suspended or repositioned.
The PSNI is yet to provide a response on the remaining enquiries at the time of publishing.
