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Richards: Nurse Arrest Video Disturbing, Highlights Hypocrisy of Public Officials

Richards%3A+Nurse+Arrest+Video+Disturbing%2C+Highlights+Hypocrisy+of+Public+Officials
Erin Burns / The Daily Utah Chronicle

City and state officials have been quick to condemn Salt Lake police for the arrest of nurse Wubbels. But their support for Operation Rio Grande leaves room for questions.

It’s a video that has been viewed more than two million times on Facebook alone. It has been shared by media titans like CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Guardian. Social critics Joe Rogan and Shaun King tweeted about it personally, as did news anchor Jake Tapper.

The video shows Alex Wubbels, a University of Utah Hospital nurse, holding a printed piece of paper in her hands. It is a copy of the Hospital’s patient protection policy. Wubbels is explaining to Salt Lake City police officer Jeff L. Payne that it is illegal and unconstitutional to draw blood from a patient without consent unless a warrant or arrest order is provided.

None of these conditions were met for the patient in question, and Wubbels quietly explained this to the police. But they were uninterested and proceeded to aggressively handcuff and arrest the terrified hospital employee.

The video is disturbing and shocking to watch. It is deeply unsettling to see a public officer of the law, unprompted by any dangerous setting or situation, so readily misuse and overstep their power. As a number of law professors have noted, Ms. Wubbels not only did nothing wrong but was actively in the right. By valuing the confidentiality of her patients above her own personal well-being, the university nurse demonstrated a robust ethic that has rightfully made her a martyr of the people.

An emergency rally was held for nurse Wubbels at the Public Safety Building, where groups like Utah Against Police Brutality scolded law enforcement and praised Wubbels for her courage. The editorial board of The Salt Lake Tribune described Wubbels as an angel and called for Payne to be fired. The incident is being independently reviewed by the Salt Lake City Civilian Review Board, as well as District Attorney Sim Gill. As of Sunday, Payne and another officer have been placed on administrative leave.

City and state officials were quick to condemn Payne’s actions. Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski called it “completely unacceptable” and a “troubling setback” for the Salt Lake City Police Department. On Twitter, Gov. Gary Herbert called the footage “disturbing” while Lt. Governor Spencer Cox described it as “outrageous and inexcusable,” adding that it “hurts the reputation of good cops everywhere.”

Criticism came from a number of other public officials, including two Salt Lake City Councilmembers and state Sen. Todd Weiler. If there were ever a nonpartisan issue that was safe to get behind in the today’s polarized political climate, it would be this one.

Utah’s elected officials are right to rally for nurse Wubbels, an innocent public employee who found herself victim to police aggression and excessive use of force. Wubbels is only one of many Utahns who has been detrimentally affected by the actions of the Salt Lake City police.

In February 2016, an SLCPD officer repeatedly shot 17-year-old Abdi Mohamed, placing him in a two-week coma. On August 13, 2017, 50-year-old Patrick Harmon, an African American man, was shot and killed by a Salt Lake City officer. A public records request for the incident from The Daily Utah Chronicle was denied by SLCPD, who said the investigation was active and ongoing.

Most troubling, and what has received the least critical attention, is the criminalization of homelessness which has taken over Salt Lake City. In less than a month since its launch, Operation Rio Grande has led to the arrest of over 600 homeless individuals. The police say they are targeting drug dealers and those who prey on the homeless community, but the arrest numbers poke holes in this narrative.

Astonishingly, it is the same public officials who so caustically chastised officer Payne for arresting nurse Wubbels who are responsible for Operation Rio Grande. And the same Tribune editorial board that called for Payne’s firing described the “clean up” of the Rio Grande area as “something to be proud of.”

Public officials are good at condemning isolated incidents with seemingly no greater social implications or ramifications. Pointing out institutional and systemic problems, however, is something they are less good at.

University of Utah student Maria Christine Hiatt pointed this out on Facebook. “Angry about SLCPD violating the constitution and arresting that nurse?” she wrote in a post. “Now you understand why to never trust them when they claim to only want to help homeless people with treatment.”

All of us ought to share Maria’s healthy skepticism. If the Salt Lake police want the community’s trust, they are going to have to earn it.

[email protected]

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Comments (6)

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  • J

    JODIESep 5, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    It just occurred to me. This highlights a pretty big failure of the press. Particularly the author of this piece.

    100% of the events were known to local media in JULY. Where was the reporting on an officer assaulting an on-duty nurse then? You had to wait on her attorney to do the media’s job and obtain the video before getting on your high horse.

    Reply
  • J

    Joe smithSep 5, 2017 at 6:33 am

    “City and state officials were quick to condemn Payne’s actions.”

    Nonsense. This happened in JULY. These hypocrites only condemned Payne’s actions after they faced public outcry.

    The mayor, the police chief, and the district attorney all need to lose their jobs for failing to hold those criminals accountable.

    Reply
  • J

    JohnSep 5, 2017 at 12:37 am

    Why hasn’t Officer Payne been charged with a crime?!? Clearly, Officer Payne broke several laws: Unlawful detainment (kidnapping), assault & battery, false arrest, and abuse behind a badge. If it were any “citizen”, they’d be in jail with a dozen charges. A cop gets a suspension? Paid? And how is the United Police Department going to investigate this? Code Blue (coverup/white wash/ protect their own).

    Good luck Salt Lake City. If Officer Payne keeps his job- your city will gain a reputation for police corruption.

    Reply
  • R

    robertSep 4, 2017 at 10:14 am

    the “homeless” issue has nothing to do with the arrest of this nurse – you’re basically using the nurse’s misery to pile on your own subjective self-serving opinion … i live in an area with a high homeless population and i can say that 9 out of 10 have absolutely no intention of doing ANYTHING about not being homeless except to attempt to guilt or shame you for ANOTHER handout because they are … homeless

    Reply
  • B

    Bob CarrollSep 4, 2017 at 8:34 am

    SLCPD. officers are not trained, and the Captain, and mayor should be fired for allowing this fool to be a member. You continue to pay him after he committed crimes which Salt Lake City million’s I hope she will bankrupt the City, Folk’s in Salt Lake need to call up the National Guard and make the PD stand down because the so called leader’s of the city have totally failed. Make every officer take a test of what they know about the law’s of Utah and the U.S. Constitution. These are not racist remarks these are remark’s against the failure of the PD to enforce our law’s, and letting this cretin, and his boss enforce them. Because they don’t even know the law’s that control what they are doing. The only way the officer could have failed any worse is if he had shot her for resisting arrest. SLC your mayor and chief of pd suck.

    Reply
  • A

    ART GONZALEZSep 4, 2017 at 7:51 am

    that happens to latinos and black people e everyday…. Im glad it caught the attention of the averrage citizen, just why now? Nurse Hubbels is white? HMMM

    Reply