Salt Lake City Police Officers Face Suspension Over Time Card Falsification

Five Officers Suspended Amid Controversy

SANDY — Five police officers from the Salt Lake City Police Department have been suspended for three months after the state revoked their law enforcement certifications. The officers, along with their legal representatives, argue that they are being unfairly targeted for a broader issue that affected numerous officers in 2022, attributing the problem to a lack of supervision that has become ingrained in the department’s culture.

Allegations of Falsifying Time Cards

The officers are facing disciplinary action for allegedly falsifying their time cards during overtime shifts aimed at removing homeless camps from in front of local businesses. An internal audit revealed discrepancies between the hours reported by the officers and the actual hours worked.

Culture of Flexible Scheduling

During a recent meeting of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) council, which oversees police certification in Utah, the officers and their attorneys highlighted that the issues began during the COVID-19 pandemic. They noted that flexible schedules, implemented in response to pandemic-related restrictions, led to a culture where officers frequently arrived late for shifts or worked from home without proper oversight.

Attorney Lindsay Jarvis, representing two of the officers, stated, "There was no supervisor. There was no one supervising these camp mitigation shifts." She emphasized that her clients did work the hours they claimed, albeit not within the specific timeframes they signed up for, which contributed to the confusion.

Audit and Accountability Concerns

The audit that triggered the disciplinary actions was initiated only after an officer was overheard boasting about being paid for shifts he did not work. However, Jarvis pointed out that the audit only covered a limited timeframe in October 2022 and did not encompass the entire period of the homeless camp removal efforts. She argued that many more officers had similar discrepancies, but only those deemed the most egregious offenders were referred to the POST council.

Lack of Feedback and Oversight

One of the disciplined officers expressed his belief that entering blocks of four hours of overtime was acceptable as long as the work was completed. "I got zero feedback on that and assumed we were good to go," he remarked, highlighting the communication gap within the department.

Several council members voiced their concerns regarding the flexible scheduling practices. One member stated, "For me personally, I know if I’m working, I’m either there on the job and doing what I’m paid for, or I’m not. So it’s black and white to me." This sentiment echoed the disappointment felt regarding the agency’s lack of supervision.

New Leadership and Future Improvements

In response to the situation, Salt Lake City Police Department officials released a statement indicating that they are taking administrative actions to enhance accountability related to timekeeping and attendance. The department’s new leadership is committed to addressing these issues to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Jarvis noted, "They have new leadership, and hopefully these issues won’t happen again."

Other Disciplinary Actions

The POST council has also disciplined other officers for various misconducts, including:

• Chad Soffe, former Woods Cross Police Chief, whose certification was suspended for a year after he was found to have falsified a government record regarding a reimbursement claim.

• Jared Cardon, a former Unified police officer, whose certification was revoked after he crashed his patrol car while under the influence of fentanyl.

• Thomas Curry, a former South Jordan police officer, who had his certification revoked for intentionally damaging bicycles at a homeless camp and subsequently lying about it.

Conclusion

All police officers in Utah are required to be certified by the Peace Officer Standards and Training council. When allegations of misconduct arise, the council investigates and recommends penalties, which can range from reprimands to certification revocation. The recent suspensions of the five Salt Lake City officers highlight ongoing concerns about accountability and oversight within law enforcement agencies.