Facing prison, ex-Park City officer found dead

A former Park City police officer was found dead of an apparent suicide in South Salt Lake the same day he was to be sentenced for embezzlement.

Ex-Sgt. Robert Lucking, 50, faced a prison term of up to 15 years after he pleaded guilty in November to theft and failure to keep or pay public money. The former sergeant, who resigned months before the charges were filed in May, had agreed to pay $50,000 in restitution as part of a plea agreement.

Lucking's body was found inside a car parked inside a warehouse where he worked, at 139 E. 3900 South, in South Salt Lake Monday morning, according to South Salt Lake police spokesman Gary Keller.

Police said it appeared he had died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Keller declined further comment, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Lucking was accused of using a debit card he obtained for the Park City Fraternal Order of Police to withdraw amounts ranging from $4,500 to $17,000 between 2007 and 2012. In another case, Lucking allegedly took money from the Park City Police evidence room while assigned to act as its custodian. He had been the evidence rooms custodian for about eight years until March 2012, and was the only person authorized to access the room's cash safe, according to prosecutors.

Lucking had been scheduled to appear in 3rd District Court for sentencing on Monday, but court records indicate that his sentencing had been rescheduled for late January.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller