Feb. 28, 2025

Media Contact Information

PolicePIO@slc.gov

https://police.slc.gov/mediarequest/

SLCPD Releases BWC Videos from August 2024 Death Investigation

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, pursuant to a GRAMA request, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) is releasing body-worn camera (BWC) videos and investigative files related to allegations that several SLCPD employees acted unprofessionally during a death investigation.

At approximately 12:20 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2024, SLC911 received information about a man found dead in a tent near Brooklyn Street and Washington Avenue.

SLCPD officers responded, confirmed the man was dead, and began a death investigation. Based on the observations of officers and the medical examiner’s office investigator on scene, the SLCPD classified the death as an unattended, non-suspicious death.

The medical examiner’s office later identified the man as 47-year-old Jason Lloyd.

The SLCPD later learned an autopsy determined the manner of Mr. Lloyd’s death to be accidental.

After learning about the allegations, the SLCPD placed seven employees on paid administrative leave and initiated an internal affairs investigation.

As the SLCPD reviewed the actions of its personnel and others present, it determined an external law enforcement agency was needed to investigate any potential criminal conduct. The Utah Attorney General’s Office conducted the outside criminal investigation.

SLCPD Chief Mike Brown also notified Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill of the allegations and the Utah Attorney General’s investigation.

On Feb. 14, 2025, the SLCPD learned from the district attorney’s office that it believed the evidence in this case did not support a criminal charge.

The SLCPD’s internal investigation revealed that an Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) contractor gave a SLCPD Officer-in-Training (OIT) a utility knife to cut blisters on Mr. Loyd’s right arm and the OME affirmatively authorized the SLCPD OIT to proceed.

Under Utah law, upon notification of an unattended death, the medical examiner shall assume jurisdiction, or control, over the deceased body and may authorize individuals to move the body in limited circumstances.

Additional findings from the SLCPD’s internal affairs investigation include:

• SLCPD officers responded to the death investigation and completed several tasks, including securing the scene, conducting an interview with the 9-1-1 caller, identifying possible security cameras, attempting to identify Mr. Lloyd, and making notifications to supervisors, homicide detectives, and the OME.
• The OME personnel arrived and began documenting the scene. Three contractors with Care Center of Utah Mortuary Services, agents for the OME, later arrived to transport Mr. Lloyd’s body.
• Prior to transporting Mr. Lloyd’s body, one of the contractors asked the OME investigator if she minded if the contractors did some “controlled popping,” to which the OME investigator on scene responded in the affirmative and gave authorization for the “controlled popping” to occur.
• Almost simultaneously, the SLCPD OIT approached OME personnel, at the direction of at least two of the other SLCPD officers and offered to help lift Mr. Lloyd’s body.
• The contractor asked the SLCPD OIT if he wanted to help and gave the SLCPD OIT a cutting device, which was later determined to be a utility knife.
• The SLCPD OIT asked the contract employee what he wanted him to do. The contractor instructed him to pop Mr. Lloyd’s blisters.
• The SLCPD OIT proceeded to use the utility knife to pop multiple blisters on Mr. Lloyd’s right arm.

The SLCPD’s internal affairs findings concluded that the SLCPD OIT had reasonable grounds to believe his actions were allowed and approved, based on several factors to include:

• The perceived competent authority and consent from the OME.
• Instructions from his Field Training Officer (FTO) and other officers on scene to offer assistance.
• His limited experience as a new officer (having completed only 11 shifts post-graduation).
• The fact that no SLCPD employees, OME staff, or contractors on scene objected prior to or while he popped the blisters on Mr. Lloyd.

The SLCPD also learned that the SLCPD OIT’s FTO allegedly instructed him to leave out any mention of the popping from his official police report. The SLCPD’s internal affairs investigation later substantiated this allegation.

Since this incident, SLCPD employees have received additional training on professionalism, decorum, and ethics. All FTOs have also received additional training on expectations.

Statement from Chief Mike Brown

“Our investigation found that some of the conduct in this case was unprofessional, discourteous, disrespectful, and offensive,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “This behavior does not align with the professionalism and integrity we demand as a police department. I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Lloyd’s family. Every person we encounter deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Our decorum during death investigations must never again fall short of our core values as it did at times in this case.”

Chief Brown acknowledged the SLCPD employees who reported their concerns about the conduct in this case, which initiated the internal affairs investigation.

Of the seven employees placed on paid administrative leave, all but one have returned to work. The primary FTO in this case resigned prior to the conclusion of any employment action. Three SLCPD employees were exonerated of any misconduct after the conclusion of the internal affairs investigation. The SLCPD’s internal affairs investigation found four officers violated one or more SLCPD or City policies. The SLCPD imposed disciplinary actions ranging from a formal letter of warning to an unpaid suspension.

Given the public interest in this unique case, the SLCPD is releasing additional information related to officers who received sustained policy violations as well as exonerated information that describes the actions of the SLCPD OIT.

Links to BWC footage:

·       Link 1

·       Link 2

·       Link 3

·       Link 4

·       Link 5

·       Link 6

·       Link 7

For reference, the SLCPD/City policies found to have been violated in this case include:

At this time, the SLCPD is unable to provide interviews regarding this personnel matter.

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