Internal Affairs Report Slams Officer Who Arrested Nurse

The Salt Lake City police detective who arrested a nurse for following hospital rules may be losing his job on the force as well as his paramedic job. An internal affairs report released Wednesday is extremely critical of both Detective Jeff Payne, who carried out the arrest, and watch commander Lt. James Tracy, who ordered it, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Investigators said the men, who were placed on administrative leave Sept. 1, violated five departmental policies, including courtesy in public contacts and conduct unbecoming of an officer. Payne's behavior was "inappropriate, unreasonable, unwarranted, discourteous, disrespectful" and showed "extremely poor professional judgment," investigators wrote.

Payne and Tracy have 20 days to respond to the report, after which Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown will decide on possible further action, which could include firing both men. At a press conference Wednesday, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski said the incident, which has led to a change in policies, is not "reflective of who we are as a city or as a police department," the BBC reports. A separate report from the Police Civilian Review Board also found that Payne and Tracy violated policies in the arrest of nurse Alex Wubbels, who refused to let Payne draw blood from an unconscious patient without a warrant or consent. The FBI is involved in a criminal investigation of the July 26 incident. (More Salt Lake City stories.)