UHP corporal not disciplined over cases cited in memo

Murray • The Utah Highway Patrol confirmed Friday that Cpl. Lisa Steed was never disciplined over DUI cases in which a supervisor suggested she falsified reports.

UHP Maj. Michael Rapich said that while no action was taken against Steed as a result of the internal memo, "the issue was addressed. The issue was handled appropriately." He declined to elaborate.

He said an investigation into Steed is continuing. The agency is also "looking into how that became a public document," Rapich said of the memo, written from one UHP supervisor to another.

Steed's credibility was compromised in April. One state judge in Salt Lake County and one in Davis County found Steed had been untruthful on the witness stand during DUI and drug-possession cases. The rulings led to a dismissal of charges against both defendants.

Soon after the rulings, the UHP removed Steed from road duty and began its own investigation of her.

This week, The Salt Lake Tribune reported on a 2010 memorandum written by Steed's then-supervisor, Sgt. Rob Nixon. He suggested in the memo that Steed falsified reports in 11 of 20 arrests she made for driving under the influence of drugs. Nixon warned that the UHP needed to address the issue before defense attorneys learned about Steed's pattern.

According to the memo, the alleged DUI offenders in the 11 questionable cases did not test positive for drugs. But Rapich said that under Utah law, a person can be convicted of DUI even after testing negative for alcohol or controlled substances.

Rapich said he isn't aware of any cases in which defendants were wrongfully arrested or convicted because of Steed.

Steed was the Utah trooper of the year in 2007.

ncarlisle@sltrib.com

Twitter: @natecarlisle