CRIME, POLICE + COURTS
Police body cams turned off after officer-involved shooting in Farmington
Mar 2, 2023, 5:00 PM | Updated: Mar 3, 2023, 12:42 pm
Emergency responders work at the scene of a shooting in Farmington, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
FARMINGTON, Utah — Audio from the moments after a shooting in Farmington Wednesday is raising new questions as the investigation begins.
A 25-year-old man, Chase Allen, was shot and killed by police after a traffic stop yesterday outside the Farmington Post Office. Police have said he was “non-compliant.”
Someone can be heard on scanners giving directions after officers opened fire. Those directions include instructions for body cameras to be shut off.
“Can we just make sure that all the body cams have been shut off now?” Johnsen asks on the audio.
“10-4. All units on the Farmington incident make sure your body cams are shut off,” the dispatcher responds.
They have yet to say whether Allen had a gun, or why they felt threatened. A search of Allen shows no prior records.
Five officers are now on administrative leave for as long as the investigation is underway.
Former Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank, who now advises the Center for Policing Equity, tells KSL NewsRadio that he tells police departments to have body cameras on whenever they are working with the public.
“What many policies say is, when you’re engaged with the public, the body camera should be active,” Burbank said. “Any sort of engagement or involvement with the public, the body camera should be running, to document what’s taking place.”
“We the public should know why our officers engaged in some level of force with the public,” Burbank said.
