The released footage shows Salt Lake City officers laughing as they instructed the rookie cop to assist with moving the deceased man’s body
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Several Salt Lake City police officers have been disciplined after body camera footage revealed they mishandled and mocked the body of a deceased homeless man in the summer of 2024, FOX 13 reported.
The footage, released on Feb. 28, shows officers laughing as a rookie officer was handed a utility knife and directed to help with the deceased man’s body. The officer in training initially thought it was a prank but said he was pressured by senior officers, according to the report.
The department placed seven employees on leave after the incident came to light. Following an internal investigation:
- One officer violated eight department policies and resigned.
- Another officer violated four policies and received a three-day suspension.
- A third officer violated two policies and received a warning.
- One employee violated one policy, but no written record of discipline was found.
The Utah Attorney General’s Office conducted a criminal investigation, but prosecutors have not filed charges, according to the report.
Internal investigation findings
The Salt Lake City Police Department’s internal investigation revealed that a contractor with the Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) gave the officer in training a utility knife and authorized him to cut blisters on the deceased man’s right arm.
Under Utah law, the medical examiner assumes jurisdiction over an unattended death and can authorize specific actions regarding the handling of the body. The department’s internal affairs report outlined additional findings:
- SLCPD officers responded to the scene and completed tasks including securing the area, interviewing the 9-1-1 caller, attempting to identify the deceased, and notifying supervisors, homicide detectives, and the OME.
- OME personnel arrived, documented the scene and were later joined by three contractors from Care Center of Utah Mortuary Services, who were responsible for transporting the body.
- Before transport, one contractor asked the OME investigator if the contractors could conduct “controlled popping,” and the investigator authorized it.
- Around the same time, the rookie officer, at the direction of senior officers, approached OME personnel to assist with lifting the body.
- The contractor handed the rookie officer a utility knife and instructed him to pop blisters on the deceased’s arm.
Body camera footage
The video shows two officers directing the rookie officer to assist with moving the body while making jokes. The rookie appeared hesitant, questioning whether he was being pranked.
“I feel like you’re pranking me,” the rookie said. “Why are you smirking like that?”
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Body camera footage then shows the rookie approaching the contracting crew and asks, “Do you need any help lifting him?” The crew responds with laughter and appears surprised by his question. The rookie then remarks that he feels like the other officers are “pranking” him.
As the rookie approaches, a contractor hired to transport the body is on the phone with the medical examiner’s office, asking for approval to perform “controlled popping” before moving the man’s body, according to SLCPD. The man had large blisters on his right forearm.
In the body camera footage, the contracting crew tells the rookie officer that they will “allow” him to assist and hand him a box-cutter-style knife.
“Shield your face, and just go ahead and pop all the blisters,” one contractor instructs him.
The rookie officer makes several small incisions before returning the tool and walking back to the other officers, who are seen smiling.
“You guys suck,” the rookie said.
“We had to do that,” an officer responded.
According to SLCPD, the officers instructed the rookie officer to leave out any mention of the popping from his official police report. Unsubmitted drafts of his report confirmed the rookie did try to document his actions.
Department response
SLCPD Chief Mike Brown condemned the officers’ conduct, calling it “unprofessional, discourteous, disrespectful and offensive.”
“This behavior does not align with the professionalism and integrity we demand as a police department,” Brown stated. “I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. (Jason) 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.”
Editor’s note: This article, originally published on March 4, was updated on March 5 with additional information and clarifies that the OME was the one who made the order to cut the blisters, not the senior officers.
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