Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(Photo courtesy Utah Department of Public Safety) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Gov. Jon Huntsman says Department of Public Safety Commissioner Scott Duncan has resigned from the post because of unspecified health issues.
Utah Highway Patrol Col. Lance Davenport will serve as acting commissioner, the governor's office said in a statement.
Duncan was hospitalized for an unknown condition in Cedar City last Thursday after twice being stopped by police while driving north on Interstate 15, Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Nigbur said. Earlier in the day, Duncan had uncharacteristically missed a meeting with state fire officials in St. George, Nigbur said.
Both a Washington County sheriff's deputy and a highway patrol trooper who stopped the commissioner said his driving was erratic and he seemed lethargic and unresponsive to questions, Nigbur said. Alcohol did not appear to be a factor, he said.
After a hospital stay of a few hours, a driver picked Duncan up in Cedar City and returned him to Salt Lake City, Nigbur said. Duncan gave a speech that night, but has not returned to work.
Duncan submitted his letter of resignation to Huntsman on Tuesday night and DPS staff were notified of the decision on Wednesday by e-mail, Nigbur said.
"It's a pretty big hit to the Department of Public Safety," said Nigbur. "He ate, he breathed, he slept public service for 32 years. He's respected."
Duncan was named commissioner in 2006, taking over from Robert Flowers, who left for a job as the regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Denver.
Before taking over the department, Duncan served as a colonel over the Utah Highway Patrol, rising through the ranks after stints as a trooper, port-of-entry sergeant and commercial vehicle lieutenant. As a captain he ran the department's criminal investigations, hazardous materials and capitol security units.
Duncan also spent two years as director of the State Tax Commission's motor vehicle enforcement division.
------
Associated Press writer Jennifer Dobner contributed to this report from Salt Lake City.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
