The incident marked the second time in five years that Dunn shot a suspect in the knee to end a confrontation. Bryan Lentz, a former corrections officer, had his certification revoked for not disclosing a sexual misconduct incident on a peace officer application. SANDY, Utah -- The agency that certifies and disciplines police officers in Utah handed down punishments to 25 officers facing accusations of misconduct. The officer's younger brother had allegedly been bullied at the school. When a police officer steps afoul of the law, it can not only undermine the credibility of the law enforcement community, it can allow you to contest evidence against you when staging your criminal defense. Dunn believes otherwise. Ask yourself, Does that sound like criminal behavior? "I made a mistake," he told the council before the discipline was handed down. Fox 13 News broadcasts on KSTU-13 out of Salt Lake City with news and other content published on Fox13now.com. Director Scott Stephenson told the Peace Officer Standard and Training (POST) council members Thursday that they are pushing to get recruits trained, working extra hours and using online courses so new officers can hit the streets. 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. 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. 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. He received only a three year suspension. Dunn, who has been on leave for 15 months, admitted he did not follow division guidelines, which instruct officers to aim for the largest body mass when using deadly force such a suspects chest or head and not a knee. Officers not not employed at the time of the offense but who still had law enforcement certification: Roberto Benvenutto, certification revoked for exploitation of a vulnerable adult; Joshua Hardman, one-year suspension for impersonation of a police officer; Andrew Hatcher, two-year suspension for driving under the influence; Jerred Loftus, certification revoked for threats of violence, impersonating a police officer; Terry Thomas, certification revoked for voyeurism. All Rights Reserved, Why 19 Utah police officers, including a former chief, were disciplined by oversight council, Johnson resigned as mayor a short time later, new training guidelines for use of force and police K-9 certification, Grit and circumstance: Bestselling author Angela Duckworth brings her wisdom to BYU, Resolution to nix educations income tax earmark passes the Utah Senate, The starter home in Utah is extinct: How first-time homebuyers could get 20K for new homes. Ive taken the steps in my personal and professional life and rectify the issues, he said. To give another example, Utah Code 53-6-211(1)(f) prohibits any sort of sexual conduct while on duty.. Abinidi Gray, a former Uintah County Sheriff's employee, was given a 1-year suspension for falsifying a record related to medication dispensed to an inmate in the jail. The private sexual conduct of the involved officer either was either criminal, involved domestic abuse, or occurred on job time. He claims the school. This has been a very humbling experience I saw as an imminent threat. Director Scott Stephenson told the Peace Officer Standard and. Schwartz says although Houston police officers killed more people and were disciplined more often than Philadelphia police, plaintiffs in Philadelphia filed 10 times more lawsuits and were. The POST report found the trooper took evidence home namely cellphones collected in drug investigations rather than booking them into a secured evidence room. Dunn was one of 20 officers who received suspensions or had their police powers revoked Wednesday, and one of two suspended for how they used their firearms. 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? Johnson resigned as mayor a short time later, new training guidelines for use of force and police K-9 certification, Mantua police chief dismissed, other officers resign, Mantua mayor resigns as new police chief sworn in following former chief's dismissal. Does that sound like aggravated assault? No it doesnt. By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's. Among the police officers disciplined by POST for misconduct are: Copyright 2017, KSTU. C leveland Director of Public Safety Karrie Howard's decision to remove police officers' names and badge numbers from internal department bulletins that detail discipline cases has prompted new questions about the level of transparency required for a department under federal oversight. 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. State officials push plan to keep Utah coal-fired power plant burning, Answers vary about whether Washington County will have enough water to accommodate growth, Utahns, Ukrainians rally at state Capitol to mark first anniversary of Russian invasion. ST. GEORGE -- The agency that certifies and disciplines all police officers in Utah handed out warnings, suspensions and revocations to 16 officers for various misdeeds. Due to the inclusion of citation information, the Newsletter will be posted monthly by the 15th. He had a previous disciplinary history with POST. (Based on average gas prices in Utah, reported to be $2.10 in April 2016, that adds up to about $195.). They included Jeremy Dunn, an. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! SANDY Nine police officers in Utah faced discipline for allegations of misconduct Wednesday. I was trying to pull [memories] from months earlier, and thats the honest truth.. We handle criminal cases in Utah County, Uintah County, Summit County, Salt Lake County, Wasatch County, Rich County, Davis County, and throughout the state. After a two-day hearing before an administrative law judge as part of the divisions inquiry into the situation, a judge determined the shooting was not within state policy and Dunn had committed aggravated assault. 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. POST Council said he had threatened a woman in a family dispute. Getting such evidence suppressed can be a critical aspect of your defense, keeping you from suffering through a lengthy prison term. More than two dozen Utah police officers were disciplined on Wednesday, September 21 at a quarterly meeting of the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). Zilles was in a marked patrol car when a Utah Highway Patrol trooper pulled him over for speeding and struggling to keep the vehicle in its lane. To view disciplinary action taken within a specific time period, please select NEWSLETTERS in the side menu. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. That was the only time I've ever used marijuana and I don't know how to describe smoking or inhaling it.". Not once, but three times, he told the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. With his police-issued pistol in one hand and his hunting shotgun in the other, Bess depending on ones point of view either investigated the errant shotgun blasts or confronted the other hunters. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. He was also charged with falsifying time cards. PROFILE. The POST Council broke from a recommended letter of caution for Unified Police officer Jonathan Richey, who pleaded no contest to a trespassing charge. He was investigated for the same offense a few years earlier. Utah Valley University: Jake Hardee, one-year suspension for false information on an employment application. Once an officer's certification is revoked in Utah, that person cannot apply to become an officer again. Jake Hardee, a former Utah Valley University police officer, was given a 1-year suspension for not disclosing information about prior drug use in a POST application. At its quarterly meeting, the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council voted for. Zilles was found to be driving under the influence of Ambien and Benadryl. The COPS Office is committed to continuing to work with partners across the Federal Government and beyond to develop resources that will help law enforcement agencies address the organizational and managerial practices and actions that can affect the well-being of the officers they employ. 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. The next day, the officer conducted "excessive traffic enforcement" in front of the school, pulling over more vehicles than normal, the investigation found. A new hunter in another party fired errant shots that went in the direction of Bess and his party. Department of Corrections Officer Jordan Bradfords certification was suspended for six months after he provided an inmate with a toothbrush and watched as the inmate sharpened it to make a shank. Evidence must be gathered in accordance with your rights, or be excluded from the case against you. Dixie State University, St. George, Utah. Police officers are human beings, and it is unrealistic to expect them to be perfect. "This has been a very humbling experience. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. Cleveland Director of Public Safety Karrie Howard's decision to remove police officers' names and badge numbers from internal department bulletins that detail discipline cases has prompted new questions about the level of transparency required for a department under federal oversight. South Jordan: Jonathan Mangum, certification revoked for theft by extortion. Governor Spencer Cox, are reacting to a report that a former University of Utah police officer showed a co-worker explicit photos of. Utah Department of Corrections: David Bingham, certification revoked for cruelty to animals, forgery and falsifying government record; Brittney Ryan, certification revoked for drug possession and open container; Bradley Johnson, certification revoked for reckless endangerment; Bryan Lentz, certification revoked for false information on employment application; Javen Lowell, 3-year suspension for sexual conduct and lewdness on duty; Kirk B. Smith, three-year suspension for domestic violence, domestic violence in the presence of four children and disorderly conduct. For the past three years, Utah police averaged about 100,000 arrests a year and during that time shot at . Kyle Maddox, with the Washington County Sheriffs Office, had his license suspended for three years after lying about eating marijuana edibles and smoking a joint during a New Years party. Once an officer's certification is revoked in Utah, that person cannot apply to become an officer again. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Thirteen Memphis officers could end up being disciplined in connection with the violent arrest of Tyre Nichols, officials said Tuesday, as city council members expressed frustration with the police and fire chiefs during a meeting for not moving quickly on policy reforms following the brutal beating. A meeting with former Mayor Michael Johnson and a Mantua councilwoman became heated to the point that Castro could be heard yelling at the mayor, according to the POST report. The council also passed a rule that forbids police officers from masturbating while on duty, taking pictures of their genitalia while in uniform and sexting. Joseph Haws, who worked for the Utah County Sheriffs Office, was suspended for nine months after he said he had booked items into evidence when he didnt. They pleaded for their jobs. Maj. Scott Stephenson, the director of POST, also presented a proposal to the council for officers to be certified in community outreach. "I think there's going to be some concerns on guidelines," said Kane County Sheriff Lamont Smith. But are Utah police officers always professional in their evidence gathering efforts? 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 . The council's discipline of officers also included: There are approximately 8,900 certified police officers in the state of Utah. A meeting with former Mayor Michael Johnson and a Mantua councilwoman became heated to the point that Castro could be heard yelling at the mayor, according to the POST report. is the Only Clout that Matters in a Courtroom. The trooper resigned in May 2020 in lieu of being fired. He chose that target, Gregson said, and he does not deny that he chose that target to avoid causing her serious injury that would have resulted if he shot her center mass or another part of her body.. Yeah, kinda skipped over this one, huh? Castro, who was hired as chief just eight months earlier, was allegedly being pressured to have his officers write more speeding tickets to help with shortfalls in the town's budget. On September 25, the Council heard 17 cases against police officers. I humbly ask POST Council to allow me to serve and protect in Utah as law enforcement again.". At its quarterly meeting here on Wednesday, POST Council members heard from many of the officers facing discipline. Stephenson said the language of any proposed bill is still being drafted and would include input from law enforcement agencies. Carver is referencing FBI-maintained data that show how many arrests police make each year. Roberto Benvenutto, a former employee with the Salt Lake County Sheriffs Office who was criminally convicted of stealing an iPad from a resident at a nursing home where he worked a part-time job. MyCentralJersey.com. The council meets quarterly to, in part, review allegations of misconduct by officers and hand down discipline. Why are the officers not being shamed like everyone else is? While Dunn said he was trying to save a life, the Iron County attorney ruled the shooting of Ivonne Casimiro on June 28, 2018, unjustified under state law. He initially said the he had put the joint to his lips, but didnt inhale it but later said that he did inhale the smoke. Roger Hill, formerly with Tooele County Sheriffs Office, was given a 2.5 year suspension after police were called to his home after he had an argument with his wife and they found illegal steroids. When police officers overstep their authority, there is often a decline in public confidence that can diminish a department s legitimacy. Law enforcement officers in Utah and elsewhere are trained that, if they are going to shoot their guns, to aim for the center of the body. And for those who are just beginning the certification process, Stephenson said they have shifted all of the coursework online but social distancing means only so many can take the physical tests at the same time. State officials push plan to keep Utah coal-fired power plant burning, Answers vary about whether Washington County will have enough water to accommodate growth, Utahns, Ukrainians rally at state Capitol to mark first anniversary of Russian invasion, most-litigated police misconduct cases in state history. The suspension started at the time he was fired in March, meaning his suspension was already over when POST handed down the discipline. I was shot at. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A jury later convicted Bess on a misdemeanor of threatening or using a weapon in a fight or quarrel. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010 - 2023 StGeorgeUtah.com LLC, all rights reserved, Utah officials move inmates after allegations of misconduct by jail employees, 28 police officers disciplined, several from Southern Utah agencies, Polygamous towns oppose bid to disband police department, Year in review: Southern Utahs most read and notable stories of 2021, Family struggles after mother dies 23 days after father in Christmas Eve crash just south of St. George, Groups scour 2022 Utah budget for funds to fight hunger, Utah Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. But Dunn and his attorney, Ashley Gregson, argued to the council that he was trying to end a confrontation without someone losing their life. Stephenson's plan was met with some mixed reaction from the chiefs and sheriffs who serve on the council. Most of the officers who appeared at the meeting avoided having their badges or certifications revoked, and were instead temporarily suspended from their positions. 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 mayor was allegedly intimidated and "alarmed" by Castro's behavior, the POST investigation found. The POST Council on Wednesday suspended Dunns police certification for four years. Garrett opted not to prosecute Dunn, however, saying the likelihood of conviction was too low. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. The court upheld the conviction. At question was whether the woman advanced toward Dunn, thereby posing an imminent threat. Department Policies. The council gave its approval for Stephenson to continue looking into the idea and coming up with a certification training course. . In a unanimous, 60-page ruling, the high court found state authorities can identify officers subjected to "major discipline" going forward but held that officers who were disciplined prior. The city and the officers denied liability in the settlement. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! A heated argument between the former police chief of Mantua and the town's former mayor has led the agency that hands out discipline to Utah law enforcers to take minor action. Depending on whether the charges involve simple or aggravated assault, and factors like how seriously the victim was injured, the penalties can range anywhere from six months in jail to 15 years in prison. An Overview Of The DUI Process In The State Of Utah, The Mandatory Drivers License Hearing For DUI Offenders In Utah, The Timeframe Of The First Court Date Following A DUI Arrest, The Legal Limit For Prescription Or Illegal Drugs In A Utah DUI Case, A Police Officer Cannot Violate An Individuals Constitutional Rights By Stopping Them Without Probable Cause, The Consequences Of DUI Charges For Commercial Drivers In Utah, People May Unintentionally Be Marked Down For Refusing The Breath Test In Utah, The Benefits Of Hiring A Private Lawyer As Opposed To Retaining A Public Defender, The Monetary Costs Involved In Being Charged With A DUI In Utah, Impact Of SCOTUS Rulings On Narcotic Dog Cases On Drug Charges In Utah, Several Utah Police Officers Disciplined For An Array Of Misconduct, Utah Police Agencies Complete 100 Deadliest Days Safety Campaign, Utah Trooper Of The Year Accused Of Falsifying DUI Arrests. With the number of refugees relocating to Utah and with how diverse the state has become, Stephenson said it is important for officers know how to address the needs of everyone who lives in the communities they serve. AP Evidence must be gathered in accordance with your rights, or be excluded from the case against you. Castro was one of 19 officers that the POST council took action against during their latest meeting. 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. It is a Governor's bill to help recruit and train officers - about 3,800 individuals statewide. They included Jeremy Dunn, an Enoch police officer who shot a woman in the knee when responding to a vehicle burglary last year. 0:00. 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