Civilian review board rules deadly officer-involved shooting as justified
Dec 19, 2022, 6:01 PM | Updated: May 21, 2023, 4:28 pm
FILE (Derek Petersen, KSL TV)
(Derek Petersen, KSL TV)
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah — South Salt Lake Civilian Review Board said the lethal force used by police against an armed suspect in September was “reasonable.”
On Monday, the board unanimously found no reason for the two South Salt Lake police officers not to return to active duty and commended them for their “composure and discipline” during the situation.
“Given the immediacy of danger to the public, the significant risk factors including known firearm possession, multiple threats against civilians and officers, and self-defense against lethal force, the South Salt Lake Civilian Review Board finds that the two officers’ use of deadly force reasonable and within Utah state statute and South Salt Lake City Police Department policy,” reads the board’s Monday statement.
On Sept. 26 at approximately 11:10 p.m., two SSLPD officers responded to the home of 44-year-old Jebb Muir after 911 calls reporting Muir was having a mental episode, according to the board’s statement.
“Complainants alleged that Jebb was suffering with psychosis, suicidal ideation, and had previously barricaded himself in a house and prepared firearms during an encounter with police,” reads the statement. “At that time of the standby, police did not observe significant signs of mental illness or violence.”
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— Tamara Vaifanua (@TamaraVaifanua) September 27, 2022
The officers responded to a call from Muir and two other calls from other individuals that are not identified in the statement.
In the call with Muir, he implied he has access to firearms and is threatening police officers.
SSLPD attempted to de-escalate the situation by having an officer who spoke to Muir earlier in the day talk to him again, but Muir hung up the phone after a brief discussion, according to the board.
SLLPD located Muir two blocks away from the home after a 911 caller reported a man threatening him with a rifle.
“As the first two arriving officers exited their car, Jebb reached for a shotgun and fired at officers. The two officers fired at Jebb, killing him,” reads the board’s statement.
