The
Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) is the functional
equivalent of the state police for
Utah
. Its sworn members, known as
Troopers are certified law enforcement officers and have
statewide
jurisdiction. It was created
to protect the lives, property and constitutional rights of people
in Utah.
Issued Vehicles and Weapons
The UHP has a mixed fleet of vehicles:
Ford Crown Victoria,
Dodge Charger, Chevy Z71 Suburbans, and
multiple
Dodge and
Ford
pickups.
As far as duty weapons, the agency issues its members the
Glock 22 .40 caliber or
Glock
18 9mm machine pistol (Section 18:
Governor's Security Detail only). (Troopers may also carry a
personal weapon, provided it is chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W, or
.45 auto.) The UHP also issues the
Remington 870 12 gauge
shotgun or
Colt AR-15/
M4 carbine. Prior to issuing AR-15's, The Patrol
began participating in a program with the US Government and
purchased surplus M-14 rifles. The UHP continues to issue and
utilize the M-14 rifle, especially in rural areas of the state. The
carbines are primarily issued to Troopers in urban and densely
populated areas.
Fallen Officers
Utah Highway Patrol police cruisers
Since the establishment of the Utah Highway Patrol, 14 officers
have died in the line of duty.
| Officer |
End of Watch |
Details |
| Patrolman George Van Wagonen |
Saturday, May 23, 1931
|
Accidental |
| Trooper Armond A. Luke |
Thursday, December 3, 1959
|
Vehicle pursuit |
| Trooper George Dee Rees |
Saturday, July 2, 1960
|
Vehicular assault |
| Trooper John R. Winn |
Wednesday, September 22, 1971
|
Accidental |
| Trooper William John Antoniewicz |
Sunday, December 8, 1974
|
Gunfire |
| Agent Robert B. Hutchings |
Tuesday, July 20, 1976
|
Gunfire |
| Trooper Ray Lynn Pierson |
Tuesday, November 7, 1978
|
Gunfire |
| Trooper Daniel W. Harris |
Wednesday, August 25, 1982
|
Vehicle pursuit |
| Trooper Joseph Samuel Brumett III |
Friday, December 11, 1992
|
Vehicular assault |
| Trooper Dennis Lavelle Lund |
Wednesday, June 16, 1993
|
Gunfire |
| Trooper Charles D. Warren |
Monday, May 16, 1994
|
Gunfire |
| Sergeant Doyle Reed Thorne |
Saturday, July 30, 1994
|
Aircraft accident |
| Trooper Randy K. Ingram |
Wednesday, October 5, 1994
|
Automobile accident |
| Lieutenant Thomas Sumner Rettberg |
Friday, February 11, 2000
|
Aircraft accident |
|
Controversies
DWI Task Force officer arrested for DWI
The UHP has been involved in several incidents which have gained
local news attention. In June of 2006, Lt. Fred Swain, a 15-year
veteran of the Utah Highway Patrol, also in charge of the Highway
Patrol's DUI Squad (a section within the Highway Patrol tasked
specifically with the enforcement of DUI laws), was charged with
DUI after crashing his patrol car into a barrier on Bangerter
Highway.
Robbery
In 2007, a retired trooper was alleged to have robbed two motorists
after conducting a traffic stop for a speeding infraction.
UHP cross controversy
On November 20, 2007, a judge ruled that the 14 white crosses
erected by the Utah Highway Patrol Association could remain in
place. An atheist group had filed suit, claiming the memorials were
a violation of the separation of church and state.
Civil rights violation
In December of 2008 a trooper was alleged to have violated the
civil rights of a black motorist during a traffic stop and
subsequent search of the motorist's vehicle.
See also
References
- Utah Highway Patrol Fallen Troopers Page
http://honoringheroes.org/Fallen_Troopers.html
- UHP Trooper Charged with DUI
- Newspaper
- Newsweek
- Deseret News
External links
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