Deseret News | Midvale police officer resigns in DUI incident

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Midvale police officer resigns in DUI incident

Not arrested? | 2:37 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Cops taking care of other cops. I would not get the same treatment.

Anonymous | 2:47 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

The officer should have been booked into jail just like your normal joe would have been.

josh | 3:29 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I got a dui. I was arrested and the car taken to the impound lot.. Th is abusive powers. Wheres the system. Nice police work coverup...

Comments continue below

Double standard | 3:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Double standard? YES

TO NOT ARRESTED | 3:40 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Lets get this stright, Sgt Salazar was arrested, what do you think a citation is, a free pass.

Next you say you would not get the same treatment, you are right, your career wouls not be over. This is not me condoning officer Salszars actions, but you had better think twice if you think he will not pay twice the price in fines and a lost life that you would.

CHADO | 3:45 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

WONDER HOW MAY TIMES HE DROVE DRUNK AND NEVER GOT CAUGHT? HE COULD HAVE CALLED AAA AUTO CLUB FOR A TOW HOME. THIS COP THOUGHT HE WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW.

mike | 4:17 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Anyone else would have been arrested and taken directly to jail. This is a classic example of a double standard where law enforcement covers for fellow officers.

granny | 4:25 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Wow' Scary,,I am sorry he is going to loose his job. But it was his choice to drive under the influence .. and he should be very thankfull no one was in the cars he hit. Lucky Guy. Could have been much worse. I have eplipisy . and I turned My lisence in myself. for 2 years. It was worth it.

no surprise | 4:50 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

A police vehicle and he wasn't arrested. not only an arrestable offense but it could also be considered misappropriation of property as well as ethics violations. He should be arrested and booked and it should show as terminated as opposed to resigned. I don't agree that it was covered or he wouldn't have been cited but i think they call it a professional favor. Now do us a favor and arrest him and charge him and throw the book at this criminal.

Loss of a good cop | 5:58 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I am sad that John chose to drive when drunk. I am sad for the people affected by the crash. I am sad for the Midvale PD. John's punishment has already begun and he has yet to be convicted. You should know that John Salazar did many good things as well. He has stood valiantly in the face of danger to keep you safe. He has sacrificed his safety and physical well being to protect you. I know this because I stood at his side. Lest you think he is just a pretty face and a drunken bum, you should walk where he has walked before you jump on the crucifixion band wagon. None of you know the courage he has displayed, the physical harm he has endured and the racial prejudice he has been subjected to as he protected you. It's OK to hate what he did Sunday morning - his acts deserve your judgment. Hold off on judging the man until you truly understand what he has done for you.

THEeyepatch | 8:51 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

"This is an unfortunate event, and everyone makes mistakes," said Hutson, who noted Salazar did not receive any preferential treatment. "I think we (as law enforcers) are held more accountable than others." REALLY???

Confused about laws: | 9:34 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

How is crashing a car being drunk only a class B misdemeanor. I know of someone that drew on the side of a bathroom stall and it was a class B misdemeanor. I don't understand the citation, putting someone's life at risk while driving under the influence I thought was a harsher sentence.

@loss of a good cop 5:58 | 9:53 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

Hundreds of people die from drunk driving on Utah roads, and most of the drunks involved were probably generally good people too.

The Trolley Square cop was a genuine hero, as well as a criminal.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

If anyone should know the hazards (to self and others) of drunk driving, a cop should.

I hope he gets help and overcomes his problems, but meanwhile he should get no special treatment.

Karen | 11:19 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009

I've known John for many years - He's a great person and has always been filled with compassion. No one is perfect and we all make mistakes - people who post here are so quick to judge based on few facts and they always seem to put them selves at such a higher standard. I am sad for so many reasons - Knowing John has done so much for the community and yet this mistake is what all the narrow minded people will remember him for. Some one above talked about what John had over come and faced in his life, sacrifices he's made and the prejudices he's faced as well as putting his safety last when it came to protect others. John will be in my prayers and I hope I can connect with him to let him know how special I still know he is!!!!! I smile when I remember him yelling down the halls of our high school and I still feel pride every time I watched him as a spokesman for Midvale Police Dept...Head high Johnny

Anonymous | 12:00 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

He has lost his career and potentially his retirement. Most others do not face that with a DUI. He has certainly not received special treatment. His mistake has cost him quite dearly.

As a DUI, | 12:37 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

he should get the same treatment as anyone else, no worse, no better.

If you want to complain, then complain how lax our DUI laws are, how many reoffend.

Zero tolerance for DUI | 12:41 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Those recognizing and appreciating this officer's past service should also understand that this may not have been the only time he drove drunk, just the first time he got caught.

He was lucky not to have killed or seriously hurt someone. We as a society must have ZERO TOLERANCE for people who choose to drive while drunk, and Hutson's comments about everyone making mistakes and the officer's taking responsibility being extremely commendable make my stomach churn! HE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE!!!

Roger | 2:37 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Corruption!

Bad example. | 5:37 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

This officer is anything but a good example of law enforcement. He doesn't deserve any praise and punishment should be imposed. How can the city call him a good example? How many of his on duty performances not be questioned as to their accuracy? This makes his whole career questionable and it puts a black eye on the department.

I would almost bet that this was a forced resignation rather than to criminalize his acts. It also preserves his post duty benefits of serving the city or any other city that may be tempted to employ him again.

It's time to end the "Blue Code" police departments that shield questionable and unethical officers and its leaders.

those who say | 7:10 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

those who say he got preferential treatment are wrong. he lost everything professionally because of this. that punishment would not happen to the average joe on the street. so people, really, quit your whining. you have your job. he is now unemployed.

give to drug court | 8:11 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

wanna party harty!! on midvales money!! and he would have kept on going!! but this time no thin blue line and who was the female?

chandevry | 8:31 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

He does sound like a classy guy. I do feel bad that he made this mistake. I believe that standing up and taking responsibilities for his actions is the first step in making changes in his life. Most people won't do that. I feel that he was treated fairly and I know that he has and will continue to pay the price for what he did. I hope he will take the lesson to heart and change things in his life to make thi right. To all those so quick to judge...you to have things you do wrong in your lives that you justify. Before you hop on the bandwagon take some time to look at the inconsistantcies in your own lives and change them prior to having problems like this.

Mistake? | 8:35 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Some mistakes are retrievable. Driving drunk is a conscious decision that is often not retrievable. He should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. It is the police department and not the officer that needs further investigation.

Cover Up? Seriously? | 10:39 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

I did a little research and quickly found that DUI violation of the first or second time is a class B Misdemeanor. It doesn't jump to a Class A unless there is bodily injury or if a minor was involved. It has to get worse to be a felony. See Utah Code 41-6a-503(1)a.
With the jail overcrowding, Class B and C misdemeanors don't get booked...period. If any of you drunks that got your DUI's and got arrested, you either injured people, were under age, had a minor in the car or were on your 3rd offense. As for his car, well it was the city's...
The guy won't work as a Cop again. He will have his certification suspended for a good long time by POST.
There was no corruption, cover up or preferential treatment. The Sheriff's Department handled it by the book.
I'm sure when this officer's case is adjudicated, he will be sentenced like anyone else would be. He also is no longer employed because of it.
Calm down, Cop Haters and go back in your caves, conspiricy theorists!

What goes around comes around | 11:51 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

I was a police officer arrested for DUI. Murray police did a professional job of taking me to the station and to jail in my own cell. I was not given any breaks and I was coopertive in all. I did not hit a vehicle or have someone in my vehicle. What is wrong here?

Credit is due | 12:07 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

You have to give it to this officer for doing the honorable thing.

Many officers in the past were not strong enough to admit their mistake and take the punishment. Some of them have been cowards about their behavior. When police officers lie and try to cover up their bad deeds it only brings down the rest of us.

Thanks for taking it like a man Sgt. Salazar!

i think | 1:05 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

i'm going to go celebrate..just as they do!!

Anonymous | 3:46 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

My guess is that half of the people who have posted on this have at some point in their life driven while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

only utah | 4:04 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

my guess is you don't know if your kids do too!

Why even have a comments section | 2:03 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

why bother even having this if you continue to filter what you want and what you dont? This paper has shown time and time again how they cozy up to the law, even when they break the law, and soften the news concerning them, yet you crucify the average joe....

BOB | 11:07 p.m. Nov. 7, 2009

has any one figured out what the FEMALE was doing in the police car with John??? Was she the one really driving? Girl Friend? what is going on with the FEMALE that took off from the accident scene?
NEWS guy - follow up on this one!!!

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