SANDY — Taking someone else's prescription medication is illegal.

The director of Peace Officer Standards and Training, Scott Stephenson, said Monday that most law enforcement officers and new recruits know this. But what they don't realize is how severe the penalty is for breaking that rule.

"Most of the cases we get, they know it is illegal. They just don't understand the severity of the violation," he said. "I think as a society it's a problem that an individual thinks they can take another individual's prescription medication. But we are seeing it within the rank, because law enforcement is a part of society. We are seeing the same issues, but ramifications (are more severe) because they're officers."

On Monday, at the quarterly POST Council meeting, a total of 10 officers were disciplined for illegal conduct. Two officers received suspensions for taking someone else's medication.

Former Weber County sheriff's deputy Scottie Sorensen, an 18-year veteran who later resigned from the department, had his POST certification suspended for three years for obtaining Oxycontin from a friend for more than a year. Sorensen had his own prescription for Oxycontin for an injury he suffered on the job. But when he ran out, he would get some from a friend rather than go back for a refill from his doctor because he said it was easier and he was afraid of being accused of being an addict, according to a POST report.

"I'm embarrassed and ashamed of my actions," an apologetic Sorensen told the council members.

Prior to being suspended by POST, the council adopted updated rules concerning prescription drug violations based on the number of cases they're seeing and the wide range of circumstances surrounding each case. Under the old rules, Sorensen would have had his POST certification revoked.

In another case, Utah County sheriff's deputy Bowdy Nielson admitted to taking his wife's prescribed cough medication when he got sick, assuming he had caught what she had. He told POST investigators he just wanted to save a trip to the doctor and didn't think it was a big deal. While being questioned during an investigation, he also admitted to using one of his father's patches for back pain and taking testosterone pills prescribed to his mother a few years ago, something he didn't do originally when applying to become a deputy.

During his disciplinary hearing Monday, a letter written by Utah County Sheriff Jim Tracy in support of his deputy was submitted to the council. The sheriff noted that Nielson's illegal use of medication was not for financial gain or to hide an addiction and he had been forthcoming about everything.

Under POST guidelines, the recommendation was to suspend Nielson's certification for three years. Council members noted Nielson's good service, however, and under the circumstances amended his suspension to a year and a half.

After the meeting, Stephenson conceded that in many cases the person illegally using the medication is not doing it because of an addiction. He said he knows of cases involving new recruits taking Adderall during finals week in an attempt to help them study.

That's why Stephenson wants to get the message out to officers and recruits that taking someone else's prescription medication can have consequences that are more severe than they realize.

"Do not take somebody else's prescription medication. Now, there are emergency circumstances where that may happen," he said, adding that he'd err on the side of caution and not take it.

"Go to the doctor and get your own prescription," he said.

8 other officers and former officers also received discipline on Monday:

• A Department of Corrections officer had his certification suspended for six months for signing his supervisor's name to a document because he didn't want to drive to another location to find another supervisor.
• A Pleasant View officer received a three-year suspension for having sex with a woman while on duty. A motion to revoke his certification failed by a vote of 8-4.
• Three officers were suspended for DUI or intoxication.
• A Department of Corrections officer had his certification revoked for writing several bad checks and then lying about it.
• Two officers were disciplined for losing their tempers. A Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy was suspended for three years for assaulting an inmate in a holding cell at a courthouse who was not following directions. A Utah Highway Patrol trooper received a letter of caution for slapping a drink out of a neighbor's hand while off-duty after he asked her to tone down the late night party she was having and she responded by swearing at him.

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