At its quarterly meeting, the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council voted for various punishment ranging from a letter of warning to revocation of officers badges. All rights reserved. Past results are not indicative or intended to demonstrate an expectation of future results. Police officers are human beings, and it is unrealistic to expect them to be perfect. The intent of these guidelines is to facilitate fairness and consistency. Bachelor of Science, Criminology May 2015. They pleaded for their jobs. Jerred Loftus was already on suspension when he ran into a group of teens while walking on a trail in Saratoga Springs and demanded to see their green cards, accusing them of being illegal aliens and threatening to kill them. He received only a three year suspension. (Nate Carlisle | The Salt Lake Tribune) Jeremy Dunn, left, a former police officer in Enoch, addresses a meeting of the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council on Sept. 25, 2019. The . Moving forward, I would adhere to POST's training and be more cognizant of every situation I encounter. Woods Cross police Chief Chad Soffe, a member of the POST Council, asked if Dunn had other less-lethal options. But Dunn, who was an officer in Enochs police department, also thought the woman was a threat. Two officers, one from Springville police and one from South Salt Lake police, had their law enforcement certifications revoked for domestic violence-related cases, according to POST. Evidence must be gathered in accordance with your rights, or be excluded from the case against you. It is a Governor's bill to help recruit and train officers - about 3,800 individuals statewide. (Useful Info That May Help Fight Your Criminal Charges), (Guide To Help Beat A DUI Conviction In Utah), 8522 South 1300 East Suite D104c Salt Lake City, UT 84094. The other group told police they felt threatened by Bess who was ultimately convicted in 1st District Court of threatening to use a dangerous weapon during a fight, a class A misdemeanor. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. When police officers overstep their authority, there is often a decline in public confidence that can diminish a department s legitimacy. Jeremy Dunn. "To minimize the damage to her and life, the preservation of life, was my priority. Galen Bret Allred, a member of the Iron County Sheriffs Office, who used Sheriffs Office funds to buy more than 90 gallons of fuel. The officers involved will likely face disciplinary action, said Utah attorney Brett Tolman, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah. The Department's investigations most often involve alleged uses of excessive force, but also include sexual misconduct, theft, false arrest, and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs or a substantial risk of harm to a person in custody. In other cases reviewed during the meeting, the POST council revoked the certifications of three officers. This archived news story is available With more than 9,000 certified police officers in the state, POST insists the number of those disciplined is still less than one percent. I humbly ask POST Council to allow me to serve and protect in Utah as law enforcement again.. In Utah, standards for police officers are consolidated under the Peace Officers Standards and Training Act, which is found under Title 53, Chapter 6 of the Utah Code pertaining to public safety. Jason Elwood, who previously served as a Uintah County Sheriffs Deputy, told the group, I apologize [for] having to appear before you on this incident and I just want to take the time to say I regret my actions. Elwood was suspended for four years after engaging in sexual conduct while on duty one of the violations explicitly banned by the Utah Code. On Thursday, he maintained that it was a mix-up, and he didnt intend to lie about the hours he worked. Dunns lawyer, Ashley Gregson, told council members that even if they thought her client used excessive force, that does not equal aggravated assault. She told the council she was defending herself. Audit finds Utah police officers get 'lenient' discipline | KUTV An audit conducted by Utah State Auditor John Dougall found that when Utah police officers commit acts like DUI,. n49 In November 2000, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission wrote that police misconduct remains an incessant problem in the United States, and the failure to wipe out abuse and brutality requires wholesale . Yeah, kinda skipped over this one, huh? This has been a very humbling experience I saw as an imminent threat. But the Iron County Attorneys Office felt otherwise, declaring the shooting was not legally justified. 0:00. When he later found those items a coin in one case, and a womans necklace in another in his patrol car, he threw them in the trash. The Enoch Police Department determined that the shooting did not violate policy. But I see there are things I could have done better and done differently. He told the council he did not intend to deceive anyone. Assaults, theft of evidence, sex while on duty among the incidents of misconduct. Members of the POST Council asked if there were less-lethal options (Dunn did use a Taser that did not work) and comments he had made that he would "smoke her" if she didn't drop a screwdriver that he said was wielded like a weapon. After Castro was fired, two other officers resigned. That discipline can range from a letter of condemnation to revoking an officer's certification. At its quarterly meeting here on Wednesday, POST Council members heard from many of the officers facing discipline. That was the only time I've ever used marijuana and I don't know how to describe smoking or inhaling it.". The motion passed by a majority vote. SALT LAKE CITY Several people, including Utah Lt. SANDY, Utah -- The agency that certifies and disciplines police officers in Utah handed down punishments to 25 officers facing accusations of misconduct. He was investigated for the same offense a few years earlier. Overson Law, PLLC136 E S Temple, #1530Salt Lake City, UT 84111. Several Utah Police Officers Disciplined For An Array Of Misconduct When the state threatens you with criminal charges, your due process rights are often the only bulwark between you and a prison cell. He joined the KSL.com team in 2021, after many years of reporting at the Deseret News and KSL NewsRadio before that. Ralph Evans, a Unified Police officer who got a letter of caution for reckless driving; Martin Luther Turner III, a retired UHP trooper, who got a one-year suspension for wrongful appropriation of police equipment, according to POST investigators; Rueben Badger, a former Utah County Sheriff's employee who got an 18-month suspension for impersonating an officer. Utah Valley University: Jake Hardee, one-year suspension for false information on an employment application. Bess, while holding his service weapon in one hand and a shotgun over his shoulder, confronted the group that had fired on them and learned that an inexperienced hunter had fired the errant shots. POST Executive Director Scott Stephenson told FOX 13 he would ask lawmakers to allow them to seek sanctions against police chiefs and sheriffs who don't report officer misconduct to them in a timely manner. It would be a true shame if you found today that his good faith efforts to contain the situation and act in a lawful manner was criminal. All rights reserved. The state agency that certifies people to become law enforcers in Utah handed down discipline to 19 current and former officers during it latest meeting. Also during September's POST meeting, final approval was given to new training guidelines for use of force and police K-9 certification so departments have a baseline standard. The POST report found the trooper took evidence home namely cellphones collected in drug investigations rather than booking them into a secured evidence room. Thats lower than the standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.. Zilles was found to be driving under the influence of Ambien and Benadryl. Local police officers who were disciplined included former Iron County Jail commander Galen Bret Allred, who had his peace officer certification revoked for allegedly using a county credit. 2:38. But the council composed of police chiefs, sheriffs and other representatives of Utah law enforcement elected to impose the 3 1/2-year suspension on Durr, and discipline 12 other current or former peace officers. Jonathan Mangum, a former South Jordan police officer, threatened to extort his ex-wife by releasing an incriminating picture of her if she didnt stop seeking a share of his retirement pension during their divorce proceedings. Lynne Riley, with the Georgia Student Finance Commission, presented with Representative Gambill a substitute to the original proposal. What we. "I'm just trying to clarify the statute to make sure there is no ambiguity whatsoever," he said. All three officers were either fired or had resigned from their departments prior to their certifications being revoked. When allegations of misconduct arise, officials conduct an investigation and impose sentences for confirmed violations ranging from a letter of caution up to revocation of its certification. Former Syracuse Police Officer Sean Fox was suspended for 2.5 years after reporting to his employer that he had never been disciplined in past jobs, when he had received verbal and written warnings in the past. Maj. Scott Stephenson, the director of POST, also presented a proposal to the council for officers to be certified in community outreach. For the past three years, Utah police averaged about 100,000 arrests a year and during that time shot at . I accept full responsibility for what I did, said Justin J. Butler, an ex-cop who formerly served on the Payson Police Department in Utah County. He was not present to speak to the POST Council. Among the police officers disciplined by POST for misconduct are: Copyright 2017, KSTU. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax A new hunter in another party fired errant shots that went in the direction of Bess and his party. But are Utah police officers always professional in their evidence gathering efforts? I thought I was going to be shot.. Here's what Sen. Mike Lee caught on camera, Police identify man killed by roof collapse in Cache County, Suazo Business Center expands to help Latino businesses in St. George, Storm's second wave heads for Utah, possibly adding 1-3 feet of mountain snow, Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting now accused of child rape, Tank job? The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Utah Code 53-6-211(1) gives the POST council the right to suspend or revoke the certification of a peace officer if he or she commits certain acts, or engages in certain practices. Zilles quit the police force and pleaded guilty to a single charge of impaired driving. On Sept. 30, members of Peace Officer Standards and Training voted to suspend former Mantua Police Chief Michael F. Castro's law enforcement certification for three months. And I made the best decision I could to minimize the damage to her and life, the preservation of life was my priority. But Dunn and his attorney, Ashley Gregson, argued to the council that he was trying to end a confrontation without someone losing their life. Martin we,s t'o-d'av reported to be progress, ing most promisingly. The council suspended Dunn's police certification for four years for shooting a woman in the knee. Assault, intoxicated driving, acts of domestic violence, and other topics that arose at the POST meeting all share one trait in common: they can all lead to criminal prosecution and, potentially, severe penalties no matter what sort of job you have. On Sept. 30, members of Peace Officer Standards and Training voted to suspend former Mantua Police Chief Michael F. Castro's law enforcement certification for three months. David Bingham, a former corrections officer, whose certification was revoked after being accused of forging a superior's signature on time cards that were altered. 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