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. The judge ruled that she did not. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. The city of Moab, Utah, said it is launching an investigation into the Moab City Police Department's handling of a dispute between Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie in August several weeks before . Dunns lawyer, Ashley Gregson, told council members that even if they thought her client used excessive force, that does not equal aggravated assault. The agency that certifies and disciplines police officers in Utah handed down punishment to 25 officers facing accusations of misconduct. This archived news story is available His attorney, Nathan Evershed, asked the council to impose a two-year suspension. The suspension started at the time he was fired in March, meaning his suspension was already over when POST handed down the discipline. sltrib.com 1996-2023 The Salt Lake Tribune. 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. Terry Thomas had already resigned as a police officer when he was charged with voyeurism. Woods Cross police Chief Chad Soffe, a member of the POST Council, asked if Dunn had other less-lethal options. Departments have disclosed discipline for 10 officers. A report to the council Wednesday said Zilles admitted to taking Ambien and Benadryl. SANDY 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. The next day, the officer conducted "excessive traffic enforcement" in front of the school, pulling over more vehicles than normal, the investigation found. Christopher Smith, a former Utah Department of Natural Resources officer and part-time Hurricane police officer, received a three year suspension after POST said he engaged in numerous instances of sexual conduct on duty with a fellow employee. In 17 cases that we followed, the departments have decided not to discipline the officers or could not identify them. James Houghtalen, with the Utah Constable Services, had his license revoked for lying about an incident where he flashed his badge at a passing vehicle and told them to slow down and that he was watching them. Getting such evidence suppressed can be a critical aspect of your defense, keeping you from suffering through a lengthy prison term. 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. After being booked for the assault and intoxication, POST investigators said she was released from jail and went home in violation of a no-contact order. 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. The trooper resigned in May 2020 in lieu of being fired. Some of the police misconduct involved property. Several people were disciplined for lying or falsifying official documents, either. Thats lower than the standard of beyond a reasonable doubt.. During its quarterly meeting on Sept. 25, Peace Officer Standards and Training Council members voted on the certification status of more than two dozen law enforcers, a third of whom had their certifications revoked. He also kept a wallet at his house that he took from a woman, and then tried to burn it when he was afraid he would get in trouble again for mishandling of evidence, according to POST. His certification was suspended for two years. Some lied about their past drug use while others did not disclose crimes they had committed. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I apologize to the law enforcement community. Uintah County Sheriffs Office: Abinidi Gray, one-year suspension for falsification of a government record. Bachelor of Science, Criminology May 2015. POST Council said he had threatened a woman in a family dispute. In some of the cases, the Council decided to revoke officers certifications to be a police officer. The council suspended Dunn's police certification for four years for shooting a woman in the knee. Dunn encountered Ivonne Casimiro, 29, who refused to put down a screwdriver. 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 the town's budget. A jury later convicted Bess on a misdemeanor of threatening or using a weapon in a fight or quarrel. In a particularly egregious case, an officer lost his certification for stealing evidence, in this case methamphetamine, which he later ingested. For the past three years, Utah police averaged about 100,000 arrests a year and during that time shot at . According to the POST investigation, during the meeting with the mayor, Castro told him that firing him would be a "huge mistake" and that it would come back to "bite the mayor in the ass." 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 intent of these guidelines is to facilitate fairness and consistency. Criminal investigations were initiated in nearly 40% of the cases. The Utah police officer who handled the traffic stop of Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito says he has been left traumatized by the latter's death.. Eric Pratt, who was one of the Moab officers shown . All three officers were either fired or had resigned from their departments prior to their certifications being revoked. AP The POST Council said the number of disciplinary actions taken against officers is on par with previous years. "I think there's going to be some concerns on guidelines," said Kane County Sheriff Lamont Smith. 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. He received only a three year suspension. forbids police officers from masturbating while on duty, taking pictures of their genitalia while in uniform and sexting. He also did not know what kind of sanctions would be sought if police chiefs or sheriffs break the law. He threw it in the garbage can, and told regulators Thursday that he gave the inmate the toothbrush to learn how they were manufacturing weapons in prison. Information on this site shouldn't be taken as legal advice for individual cases or situations. 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. 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. I strive to live my life with integrity. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Council is comprised of police chiefs, sheriffs and residents from across the state. Our lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call. Learn how your comment data is processed. Former federal judge Paul Cassell has now filed a request for the states high court to rehear that case. I love law enforcement and the community which I served, Bess said Wednesday. But, when they are engaging in conduct that, at best, displays a sorry commitment to professionalism in police work, you should not have to pay the price for their sloppiness. 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. I cant honestly say I mixed up the details, he said. 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. 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. Nominate Someone for a FOX 13 Dream Team Surprise! Tyrel Curtis, a former Juab County Sheriff's deputy, received a 3-year suspension for falsifying information on an application to POST. Castro refused and faced disciplinary action by the city. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "This has been a very humbling experience. In other cases reviewed during the meeting, the POST council revoked the certifications of three officers. Yeah, kinda skipped over this one, huh? He directed the Traffic Department augment to augment their personnel on the portions of the highway damaged by the adverse weather recently. 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. The woman was holding a screwdriver and Dunn believed she was a threat. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. But I see there are things I could have done better and done differently, he said in a recording of the hearing. 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.. 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. 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? 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. The Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council disciplined 12 current or former officers at its quarterly meeting. Among the police officers disciplined by POST for misconduct are: Copyright 2017, KSTU. 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. 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. 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. Was already over when POST handed down the discipline rehear that case 2023 Media! Sexual conduct while on duty one of the cases, either 2017 KSTU! 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