Police call for sentencing changes following shooting of two officers

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (KUTV) — Utah‘s largest police organization is calling for new talks on minimum mandatory sentences in the state in the aftermath of the shootings of two police officers this week.

As 2News first reported, the young suspect — who was shot and killed by police — did not serve prison time for a previous shooting. Instead, Judge Matthew Bates ordered him to 36 months probation.

“In the last 50 days, we’ve had four officers shot in the line of duty here in Salt Lake County,” said Brent Jex, retired 20-year detective, now security firm CEO and president of the Utah Fraternal Order of Police.

In the pursuit of justice, Jex said “Physical crime against another person has got to be a priority."

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“What about minimum mandatories?” 2News asked.

“I think it’s worth a look,” Jex said.

“Minimum mandatory sentences would take some discretion away from judges?”

“Well, look where their discretion has gotten us,” Jex said, adding that Utah criminal justice reform, known as JRI, is “not a success.”

The Utah Attorney General’s Office did not delve into specifics, but also left no doubt it too wants sentencing changes.

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“We are working with prosecutors statewide to advocate that the Legislature amend the law to hold offenders accountable and to assure that mental health and drug addiction are treated and protect the public,” said the AG’s Office in a statement to 2News.

Tripp Mims lost his wife when a truck driven by a suspected drunk driver, which was being chased by police, hit her car.

“I can’t think of a reason he should not have been incarcerated at the time,” Mims said of the driver, while also acknowledging he thinks “there are people who deserve treatment over jail.”

Mims said he believed the man at the wheel — accused of having a blood-alcohol level several times above Utah’s legal limit — had been offered treatment “and it failed."

“I’m sympathetic to addiction,” he said, “but it doesn’t warrant a get out of jail free card.”

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The Utah State Courts noted judges impose sentences after “receiving the pre-sentence report information, the (sentencing) guideline recommendations, the arguments from the parties, and considering the many unique facts of each case."

“This important process unfolds in thousands of cases in Utah each year,” they said.