SLC police lieutenant demoted after nurse's arrest appeals, says discipline was 'excessive'

The watch commander who was on duty when a Salt Lake City police officer arrested a University Hospital nurse last summer is appealing his demotion, claiming it was “excessive discipline.”

Lt. James Tracy was demoted to the rank of officer last month after the police chief determined Tracy made the “completely unreasonable” order that Detective Jeff Payne arrest nurse Alex Wubbels on July 26, after she refused to allow Payne to draw a patient’s blood. The encounter garnered national outrage after body camera footage was released by Wubbels’ attorney in August.

Tracy’s attorney, Edward Brass, filed documents Oct. 13 appealing Chief Mike Brown’s decision. He provided a copy of the documents to The Tribune on Wednesday.

The appeal, which is addressed to the Salt Lake City Civil Service Commission, claims that Tracy didn’t order Wubbels’ arrest that day, but had told Payne only that “he should consider” handcuffing the nurse.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/2017/10/25/appeal-slc-police-lieutenant-demoted-after-nurses-arrest-claims-excessive-discipline/