Certifications suspended for 5 Salt Lake police officers who falsified time cards

SANDY — Five Salt Lake police officers will be out of commission for three months after their law enforcement certifications were suspended by the state.

But the officers and their attorneys say they are being singled out for an issue that involved many more police officers in 2022 and happened due to a lack of supervision that became part of the “culture” at the department.

The five officers faced disciplinary action for falsifying their time cards and the Peace Officer Standards and Training council, which oversees police certification in Utah, spent most of its quarterly meeting last week listening to and debating the cases.

The officers had signed up for overtime shifts in 2022 to remove homeless camps in front of Salt Lake businesses. However, following an internal audit, the city determined that the time cards filled out by the officers did not match the hours actually worked.

But when discussing what happened, the officers and their attorneys said it was an issue that started when there were COVID-19 related restrictions that led to “flexible schedules.” And due to a “lack of supervision,” it became common practice for officers to show up late for those shifts or some officers working from home, according to a recording of the June 24 council meeting.

“There was no supervisor. There was no one supervising these camp mitigation shifts,” said attorney Lindsay Jarvis, who represents two of the officers.

Jarvis said her clients actually worked those hours, “but not within hours (they) signed up, that’s what the culture issue was.”

She said it wasn’t until 2024, when an officer was overheard bragging about getting paid for shifts he didn’t actually work, that an audit was conducted. But Jarvis said the audit only covered October 2022 and not the entirety of the homeless camp removal shifts. And while more than the five accused officers falsified their time cards, only those considered the most egregious offenders were forwarded to Peace Officer Standards and Training, she said.

Another of the disciplined officers said he assumed he was allowed to enter blocks of four hours of overtime on his time card as long as he got the work completed.

“I got zero feedback on that and assumed we were good to go,” he said.

Some council members questioned the flexible shifts.

“For me personally, I know if I’m working, I’m either there on the job and doing what I’m paid for, or I’m not. So it’s black and white to me,” one member opined. “I’m just disappointed in the actions of the agency and the lack of supervision.”

Several council members concurred that they were troubled about the lack of oversight within the department. Jarvis responded by saying Salt Lake City recently appointed a new chief who was trying to fix that.

“They have new leadership, and hopefully these issues won’t happen again,” she said.

On Wednesday, the Salt Lake City Police Department, in a prepared statement to KSL.com, said it “has taken administrative action to improve accountability related to timekeeping and attendance. While updates have been made, the department’s new administration is still learning about the case and is working to identify additional ways to enhance our operations and control measures. We appreciate the continued support and patience of our community and our personnel as we carry out this process.”

Other police officers disciplined by the council include:

• Former Woods Cross Police Chief Chad Soffe, who was pressured to retire in 2023. His certification was suspended for a year. Soffe donated a table to the department’s patrol room, but then claimed he had purchased it at a garage sale and asked the city for a reimbursement of $300. He was charged in Davis County Justice Court with falsifying a government record. In February, he entered into a “diversion” agreement, meaning the legal proceedings are suspended and the charge will be dismissed if he completes the conditions of the agreement, according to court documents.
• Former Unified police officer Jared Cardon’s certification was revoked for crashing his patrol car in 2021 while on fentanyl pills. Cardon was off-duty and driving home from work but still in uniform when he crashed into a freeway barrier on I-15 near 1500 South. In May, he pleaded guilty to impaired driving and being a restricted person in possession of a gun, due to the fact that he tested positive for drugs and still had his service weapon with him. He was sentenced to two years of probation.
• Former South Jordan police officer Thomas Curry, who was fired from his department in 2024, also had his certification revoked for intentionally puncturing two bicycles’ tires at a homeless camp and then lying about it to his supervisors.

All officers in Utah are required to be certified by Peace Officer Standards and Training. When allegations of misconduct arise, its council investigates those allegations — which is separate from a criminal investigation — and recommends penalties. The council, consisting of the heads of law enforcement agencies from across the state, city and county leaders, as well as select civilian organizations, will then vote on those penalties during its quarterly meetings. The penalties can range from a letter of reprimand to the revocation of an officer’s certification.