Utah Nurse Video: Salt Lake City Cop Loses Side Job

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Remember the Utah police officer who was recorded roughly removing a screaming nurse from a Salt Lake City hospital because she refused to draw blood from an unconscious patient? Well, he was fired Tuesday — but not from his job as a detective.

Salt Lake City Detective Jeff Payne's was recorded saying he'd bring transient patients to the hospital and take the "good patients" elsewhere in retaliation against nurse Alex Wubbels. The comment raised alarm bells for Gold Cross Ambulance President Mike Moffitt, who said he'd heard them for the first time when the video was released last week. Payne was also a part-time paramedic.

"That's not the way we conduct our business, that's not the way we treat people in our city," Moffitt said. (For more information on Payne's case and other Salt Lake City stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Wubbels was following hospital policy when she refused July 26 to allow Payne to take blood without a warrant or formal consent from the patient who was unconscious in the hospital burn unit. The man was in a car crash that stemmed from a police pursuit. Payne maintained in his report that he wanted the blood sample to protect the man rather than prosecute him.

Police body camera video showed Wubbels calmly explaining that she could not allow a blood draw from a patient who hadn't been arrested or consented, unless police had a warrant. They did not, but Payne insisted and put her on the phone with his lieutenant who said she would be arrested if she didn't agree.

There were no answers Tuesday at publicly listed phone numbers for Payne. The Salt Lake police union didn't immediately return messages seeking comment

The dispute ended with Payne handcuffing Wubbels and dragging her outside while she screamed and said, "I've done nothing wrong!"

Her lawyer, Karra Porter, said she can understand ambulance company would be troubled by his comments and the decision to let him go wasn't surprising.

Payne was put on paid leave by Salt Lake City police after the video emerged. A second officer was also put on leave after authorities opened a criminal investigation into the arrest.

The other officer has not been identified. Police have said the lieutenant's actions are also under review.

Payne joined Salt Lake City police more than 20 years ago and worked for Gold Cross as an EMT and paramedic since 1983. He was generally a hardworking, conscientious employee who followed the rules, so his behavior on the video was shocking, Moffitt said.

Gold Cross is a private company that contracts with Salt Lake City to respond to medical calls in the city.

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press

Photo credit: Rick Bowmer/Associated Press