"The BYU Police Department has been decertified by the state of Utah.

It will remain active as a police department, however, until Sept. 1 while BYU appeals the decision.

The Utah Department of Public Safety officially notified the school of the decertification in a letter dated Feb. 20 to Brigham Young University President Kevin Worthen, stating that it has failed to comply with open records rules that all other law enforcement agencies are subject to.

According to the letter, BYU police "failed to comply with the certification criteria … spefically, between 2016 and April 2018, BYUPD failed to conduct an internal investigation into specific allegations of misconduct by a BYUPD officer and failed to report any findings found to be true to Peace Officer Standards and Training" as required by law.

The department also "failed to comply with a subpoena issued by POST" on June 28 into allegations of misconduct by a BYUPD officer," the letter states.

Utah Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Marissa Cote said the department failed to comply with public records requests, even when the state was the one requesting records."

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900057603/byu-police-decertified-by-state-utah.html

So do they think they're above the law, or they are the law?!

Yes

So the church once again decides that it doesn't have to follow the law.

Not surprised one bit.

Well, this should be an easy fix in a Theocracy such as the State of Utah. I'm sure they have super lawyer Dallin on the case already drafting a bill to exempt BYU and protect the "Religious Rights" which we all know are in grave peril. The rest of the G.A.s will be busy leaning on the congress people to ensure the passage of the bill.

I'm sure BYU Police will become forthcoming and transparent about their activities on the same date that the church releases their financial records

The issue, as I understand it, is that a BYU police officer accessed the state law enforcement database to gather information on a student, then passed that information along to BYU Honor Council gestapo to be used against a BYU student. BYU refused to provide records related to the incident to confirm or refute that that is what happened.

SLTrib also filed an open records suit (GRAMA) saying that if BYU Security is a state certified police department, they are subject to state open records laws. The court agreed. BYU is appealing that ruling, and they are appealing the decertification of BYU Security.

Geez, it's just not all that much fun being an autocrat anymore, even in autocratic Utah. Utah used to be a wholly owned subsidiary of LDS Inc, but some cracks are starting to show in that relationship.

'Bout time.

Its about damn time!

There is nothing scarier than a church police force with state wide authority. I can't believe they'be been allowed to be this way all these decades.

Another sign the church’s political control of Utah is slipping.

Let's be clear here. They are NOT de-certified. They are scheduled to be de-certified in 6 months. The right church officials will "talk" to the right politicians and they will retain their certification. This is a dog and pony show. The thinking has been done and their election (certification) made sure. BYU PD will acquiesce to certain "changes moving forward" and will continue on while complying with the bare minimum. You can thank the SL Tribune for pushing it this far.

I don't think this will end in BYU's favor. There is already a court ruling against them that they have appealed to the Utah Supreme Court. The Department of Public Safety has taken the next step, not the first step, to decertify them after BYU failed to meet a requirement given to them in December. The State Legislature will hear a bill in this session that requires them comply with GRAMA requests and subpoenas to maintain certification. This problem isn't going away. Why?

Because there is hard proof that a BYU police officer shared confidential information with the Honor Code office. There is proof that a Utah County Sheriff's deputy shared confidential information with the Honor Code office. There is proof that BYU failed to comply with a subpoena to turn over information regarding a rape investigation. And the worst part of all of this, BYU is not giving this information because it implicates them in a Title IX infraction that could put federal dollars at risk.

So after everything, BYU risks loosing more than their police department and they are shitting their pants.

We spent the better part of two days arguing about the culpability of the RCC in the abuse of women and children and BYU is demonstrating those same tendencies as the RCC to cover it up and obfuscate the discussion.

This ain't going away because BYU fucked up bad on this one.

It is very much like the RCC fiasco.

A girl reports sexual abuse, and the BYU cops violate the law by looking up her data and reporting it to Standards. She is effectively punished.

The Church's (BYU's) position is that its holy mission gives it the right to violate a woman's legal rights. The courts are rejecting that, saying essentially that institutional morality is not superior to individual morality. And if the Utah Supreme Court were to side with the church, Title IX ensures that the conflict will go to the federal court system.

Also like the RCC scandals, a final disposition will result in the opening of a lot of BYU's secret files. Who knows what skeletons lie there?

You don't live in Utah-do you? I can understand your perspective, if you haven't lived here. NOBODY can understand the theocracy of Utah until you've lived here. Yeah, yeah, I know what the constitution says. I know the way the courts are supposed to work. I know about the theory about church and state. It does not exist in Utah. 90% of our lawmakers are active LDS. 90%.They take their orders from Temple Square or they lose their jobs. As much as I'd like to see the demise of the BYU police force, the scenario that I laid out is the way it's going to happen. This is Utah.

I have lived extensively in Utah.

Things have gradually changed. That the church would lose this far would have been inconceivable a couple of decades ago. And as I wrote, if the Utah Supreme Court sides with the church the issue will likely go to the federal courts since Title IX is national legislation.

The church can't quash a federal debate as easily as a Utah one.

Exactly. The only time "right" wins against the church is when things get heard outside the Utah courts system- including the Utah Supreme Court. That won't happen. The church employs the biggest, meanest, most effective law firm in the State. This won't go that far. A deal will be cut and BYU PD will maintain their creds. Mark my word.

If BYU and the state reach a deal, the woman who was harmed can sue in federal court on the basis of Title IX.

The state can't kill this.

You get the Judge that ruled against BYU was a Mormon appointed by a Mormon Governor? That the Commissioner of the DPS is a Mormon appointed by a Mormon Governor? And that the Representative that brought the new law that would require BYU to comply with GRAMA is a Provo Mormon elected by Provo Mormons?

Incidentally a friend of mine, a Mormon, was the prosecutor in the case against the man who raped this girl and I think he punched a hole in his wall when the BYU PD pulled this crap.

I'm not saying that the Mormon church won't try and flex some muscle but I'm saying that if they do, their constituents will be pissed.

If my 20+ years living in Utah County have taught me anything, it's that the population here loves a front runner. And BYU is loosing this case and most of the people who would defend this corrupt police department have jumped off their band wagon.

Title IX is not a Utah-only thing. For that matter, neither is Costco, which is where I’ll need to go to get enough popcorn for this.

The church isn’t getting a free pass anymore because too many people see its negative impact on society.

I hope the Whole Thing is or becomes 100% transparent.

Retired law-enforcement friend wondered--with all the money TSCC has, why they can't do anything right?

Oh, that's easy. In spite of their "endowment", the Powers That Be really do believe you can buy anything in this world for money. Unfortunately, you can't buy integrity with money.

Believing that the rules that apply to the little people don't apply to you because you are only answerable to God (and you are God's spokesperson - how convenient is that) is a pretty fundamental lack of integrity.

Wasn't there a case of LDS, Inc lawyers using BYU Police department records, and possibly inquiries over the state's police databases, to gather information about a person suing LDS, Inc over a sexual abuse case at the BYU based Missionary Training Center? If I recall correctly they leaked some of that information to the press to try to discredit and humiliate the litigant publicly. That abuse of power of a "police department" is outrageous and should have them bucked down to "private mall security" status.

That should have been appalling to anyone in law enforcement. It doesn’t garner the church friends.

Here is NPR's report on this topic, including audio.

https://www.npr.org/2019/02/26/698342856/utah-threatening-to-strip-brigham-young-university-police-force-of-its-authority

Nice going, LDS! The Catholics have had sexual abuse issues, the Baptists are now dealing with sexual abuse issues, and it looks like (at least with BYU coming under scrutiny) that the Mormons' turn on this wheel will be next. Way to go, BYU administration! You did what the ex-Mormon community could not do--forced a light to be shined on the practices of your private college regarding reports of sexual abuse! And though I'm very sorry for the victims of such abuse, I really hope that what is coming out now is only just the beginning!

U didn't mention the dilemma that the Methodists are having (SSM, what about their ministers, etc)

A few decades ago there was a big deal about BYU police dept having more powers granted it than normal city Police departments.
BYU police were granted full power of arrest anywhere in the State - and they used it. Got in trouble going into jurisdictions like St. George and harassing BYU students even when class was not in session.

They have been a power all to themselves for decades.

Hope they destroy some documents so the prosecuting attorneys can go after these jerks.

IDK about Utah, but in Washington State, any sworn police officer or sheriff deputy can arrest anyone in the state who has a valid warrant outstanding.

Why were these religion police certified by the government in the first place. They should be nothing more than private security guards.

apparently there was enough crime on campus & with the students involved.

the city police aren't familiar with all the details of the campus, it's a common thing for a large university.

Let's see...

They want to be certified by the external entity, but not accountable to the external entity...?

Usual Mormon hypocracy! If it weren't for double standards, they'd have no standards at all.

nomonomo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Let's see...
If it weren't for double standards, they'd have no standards at all.


Another RfM classic!

this one's a giant headache for the byu president, might lead to his dismissal.

I can feel the heat of the communications from here.

now officially can't be hidden or covered-up, Oh for shame.

Someone ask the GAs / Q guys for their comments, you'll get the Coldest reception ever known in the IMW...

Anything to loosen the LDS drip on the state.

Why does BYU need a police force? I thought Mormons were about obeying and sustaining the law.

I've spent most of my adult life on university campuses, as student or faculty. The police departments were in a near-constant state of scandal/investigation at some level, and generally not well respected. For the most part, the officers are people who failed the tests and couldn't meet the requirements to become city police officers. Unfortunate university students have to contend with these second-rate tough guys with chips on their shoulders who are short on ethics as well as the other qualifications needed by proper police officers. Over the decades, student--and faculty--outcry has forced some universities to raise their hiring standards. Utah is in a class by itself.

I've been keeping an eye on this case. If the young woman in question is forced to continue this at the national level, as Lot's Wife says she would be able to do, I hope someone here will post details of the go fund me or kick-starter site. I'm contributing.

That drips of Machiavellian power grab to manipulate the system to serve the master in this case BYU Honor Code enforcement.

Pure Orwellian.

Glad the state has enough brass to rise to the occasion and say "enough."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2019 07:43AM by Amyjo.

Thank you for this.

I deeply hope everyone involved gets what they deserve, but not for a minute do I believe this guy looked up all of those records on his own initiative. Someone well-placed asked him.

The "Deep State" shenanigans of BYU.