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SANDY — Paula Lazano didn't go before the Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council Monday to make excuses for what she's done.
"I'm not here to plead my case," she told those on the council. "I take full responsibility for my actions. You have all the facts in your file of what occurred. I just wanted to come and stand before you so you can see me as a person."
I take full responsibility for my actions. You have all the facts in your file of what occurred. I just wanted to come and stand before you so you can see me as a person.
–Paula Lazano, former WVC officer
#lazano_quote
Lazano was one of 10 officers to be disciplined by the board in the hearing. She was working for West Valley City and nearing retirement when she rolled her vehicle on Legacy Highway with a blood alcohol level of 0.12.
"I feel really bad for the decisions I made," Lazano said. "I'm lucky to be alive. I rolled my vehicle. More importantly, I'm glad I didn't hurt anyone else."
Because Lazano was later caught driving on a suspended license, her certification was suspended for two years.
Another officer was given a two-year suspension over a domestic violence incident — hitting his wife in front of their child. He, too, asked for leniency from the council, saying he has taken domestic violence and anger management classes and the couple stayed together.
Tom Patterson, executive director of the Utah Department of Corrections, wants both officers to return to the police force.
"I hope both of you come back," he said. "It is compelling to see people become greater advocates because of adversity."
The future seemed less bright for two officers that had their police officer certification revoked. Troy Brewer, formerly of the Provo Police Department, who gained notoriety after being caught on film while taking prescription medications from a home. He has been charged in Provo City Justice Court with theft and possession of a controlled substance, both Class B misdemeanors.
A recent law has allowed for administrative sanctions regardless of the outcome of any potential criminal case.
Davis County Sheriff's Deputy Leah Carpenter lost her certification for carrying on a relationship with a male parolee. The man told of their relationship during a DUI investigation and had photos and text messages to support it.
The woman's attorney said she was separated from her husband at the time and had a long history with the man, dating back to childhood.
Trenton Hintze, of the Salt Lake City Airport Police Department, was issued a four-year suspension for falsifying a government record when he was involved in an accident and reported he was driving one vehicle instead of another.
Christie Trujillo, an officer with the Utah Department of Corrections, admitted to collecting items from one prisoner to give to another and printing pictures of cars at inmates' request. For that, she was suspended for three years.
While applying to the Salt Lake Community College law enforcement program, Stuart Harman failed to admit to a 2005 incident involving methamphetamine use. Had he been truthful, he would have been denied application until January 2011, but will now be suspended until 2013.
We see things the public does not normally see on a daily basis and then they expect us to go home and have a normal life, shake off what we've seen. That's not always the case.
–Scott Stephenson, POST director
#stephenson_quote
Jared Ingalsbe was working on the Ogden police force when he was cited for reckless driving. He only recalls that he was going to return a DVD when the single-vehicle accident occurred. The man's blood alcohol level was 0.05, below the legal limit, but he also rested positive for an Ambien-like prescription medication. He was given a one-year suspension.
Former Weber County Sheriff's Deputy Corey Stark was suspended for one year after admitting to using a friend's hunting license on a deer hunt. Wyoming Division of Wildlife Resources stopped Stark as he was returning from Wyoming with a deer and noticed there was no tag on the animal.
A vote of 7 to 6 allowed Nikkole Malan of the Morgan County Sheriff's Office to receive a suspension of one year as opposed to a longer term. Malan was involved in a single-vehicle crash while she had a blood alcohol level of 0.18. She said she "didn’t realize my drinking problem had gotten out of control” until the accident.
In general, POST Director Scott Stephenson said that while police officers are held to a higher standard, they are human.
"This is a stressful profession," he said. "We see things the public does not normally see on a daily basis and then they expect us to go home and have a normal life, shake off what we've seen. That's not always the case."
The next POST Council meeting will be held Sept. 13.
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Written by Emiley Morgan with contributions from Sandra Yi and Kelly Just.
