Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown has fired one officer and disciplined another in connection with the July 26 arrest of University Hospital nurse Alex Wubbels, according to records obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Detective Jeff Payne, who arrested Wubbels, was fired Tuesday, and his watch commander on the day of the encounter, Lt. James Tracy, has been demoted, according to the documents signed by Brown and delivered to the officers Tuesday.
Brown’s decision is the culmination of an internal affairs investigation that began the day after the confrontation between Wubbels and Payne. Payne aggressively arrested Wubbels after she refused to allow him to draw the blood from an unconscious patient involved in a fiery crash in Cache County earlier in the day. Citing hospital policy, Wubbels had told Payne he could not draw the crash victim’s blood because the man was not under arrest, Payne did not have a warrant, and he could not obtain consent from the unconscious man.
The results of that internal investigation were released Sept. 13, showing both officers violated several department policies during the confrontation. The officers then had 20 days to respond. Both men met with department officials in recent weeks to provide their sides of the story.
Brown was tasked with making a final decision on how they should be disciplined. The officers now have five days to lodge an administrative appeal of the decision.
Tracy was Payne’s supervisor July 26 and went to the hospital when Payne encountered challenges in obtaining the blood. The encounter was captured on police body cameras, and the footage caused a national uproar after it was released by Wubbels’ attorney about a month later.
While Payne was terminated, Tracy faces a demotion from lieutenant to officer. Both had been on administrative leave since Sept. 1, the day after the footage was released.
James Tracy Notice of Decision Redacted on Scribd
Jeff Payne Notice of Decision Redacted on Scribd
On Twitter, Wubbels’ attorney indicated she approved of Brown’s decision.
“Chief Brown took significant steps, and seems to understand the importance of regaining public trust,” Karra Porter wrote, though she added “further discussions [with police] are needed.”
Chief Brown took significant steps, and seems to understand the importance of regaining public trust. But further discussions are needed.
— Karra Porter (@KarraPorter) October 10, 2017
In an emailed statement, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said she backed Brown’s actions against the officers.
“The decision by Chief Brown in the UMED blood draw incident is in keeping with the high level of accountability we owe the people of Salt Lake City, and is a decision which can be upheld under further scrutiny,” she wrote. “In making his decision I am confident Chief Brown balanced the unique stresses each of our police officers deal with daily, and the responsibility they have as leaders in our community.”
Biskupski thanked the department’s internal affairs division, as well as the Police Civilian Review board, which conducted its own review of the arrest, for “their professionalism in handling this case in a manner reflective of law, city policy, and community standards.”
In the statement, Biskupski reinforced her faith in Brown to lead the department, saying he is “an individual of high integrity and character.”
The internal affairs probe has concluded, but a criminal investigation into the episode continues, involving the Unified Police Department, the FBI and the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office.
This story will be updated.