Cops End Their Careers After Disturbing Incident With Dead Body

Summary

In Salt Lake City, a routine police response to a deceased homeless man takes a disturbing turn when officers are caught mishandling the body. The incident, involving officers Mullenex, Kee, and Smiggle, escalates into misconduct as Smiggle is instructed to pop blisters on the body, revealing gas-filled bubbles, a shocking violation of respect for the deceased. The actions lead to an internal investigation and disciplinary actions for several officers. The death, later ruled accidental, highlights issues of professionalism and dignity in law enforcement, sparking outrage and raising questions about proper conduct during such investigations.

Takeaways

• 😀 A routine police response to a deceased homeless man escalates into misconduct, leading to an internal investigation of several officers.
• 😀 Officers were found to have engaged in disrespectful behavior toward the deceased, including making inappropriate jokes about the body.
• 😀 Officer Smiggle, a new recruit, was instructed to pop blisters on the body, which was filled with gas, as part of moving the body.
• 😀 The investigation revealed that certain officers, including Officer Mullenex and Officer Kee, violated department policies regarding respectful conduct.
• 😀 Officer Mark Kee resigned after being found guilty of bullying and unprofessional behavior, including instructing a recruit to omit key details from official reports.
• 😀 The body of Jason Herald Lloyd was found with no signs of trauma or injury, and his death was ruled accidental, though the details were not fully disclosed publicly.
• 😀 Officer Peterson's derogatory comments about the homeless population were recorded, leading to a written warning for violating department policies.
• 😀 Officer Smiggle, although involved in misconduct, faced minimal consequences, with no significant discipline or criminal charges against him.
• 😀 The incident sparked public outrage and led to scrutiny of police treatment of deceased individuals, especially those experiencing homelessness.
• 😀 The case highlights the need for improved police training, particularly regarding the ethical and respectful handling of deceased persons and the importance of documentation.

Q & A

What was the initial purpose of the police response to the scene?

The initial purpose of the police response was to confirm reports of a deceased homeless male found in a tent.

What specific violation did Officer Mullenex commit during the incident?

Officer Mullenex was found to have violated four department policies, including instructing Recruit Smiggle to help move the body and acting in a discourteous and disrespectful manner.

Why did officers choose to not include certain details in their final reports?

Officers, particularly Officer Keep, instructed Recruit Smiggle to exclude critical details in the final report to avoid reporting the inappropriate handling of the body.

What led to the internal investigation by the Salt Lake City Police Department?

The internal investigation was triggered when recruits reported possible misconduct related to the handling of the deceased body, including the inappropriate actions of popping gas-filled blisters.

What actions did Recruit Smiggle perform that were deemed inappropriate?

Recruit Smiggle was handed a box cutter and instructed to pop gas-filled blisters on the deceased's body, a disrespectful and unprofessional act.

How did the public react to the incident?

The incident sparked public outrage due to the disrespectful treatment of a deceased individual by the police officers, raising concerns about law enforcement conduct.

What was the outcome of the investigation into Officer Keep's behavior?

Officer Keep was found to have violated eight department policies and ultimately resigned from the police force following the investigation.

What was the official cause of death for Jason Herald Lloyd?

Jason Herald Lloyd's death was ruled as accidental, although no trauma or injury was found on his body.

How did the officers perceive the homeless community during their discussion?

Officers expressed negative views about the homeless community, referring to many as 'dopesters' and suggesting that addiction was a major cause of homelessness.

What disciplinary action was taken against Officer Mullenex after the investigation?

Officer Mullenex was removed from the Field Training Officer (FTO) program and was placed on a 3-day suspension without pay.