Courts » Meanwhile, ex-detective charged in shooting
death appears in court.
By jessica miller
| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Jul 08 2014 08:10 am • Last Updated
Jul 08 2014 10:34 pm
New allegations against the troubled West Valley City
Police Department were revealed this week by an attorney representing the
parents of Danielle Willard, who was shot and killed by police in 2012.
Attorney Mark Geragos is asking a federal judge not to
halt their civil court case while former Detective Shaun Cowley faces criminal
prosecution for the shooting.
Geragos alleges as part of a Monday court filing that
an officer — not Cowley — accused of having sexual contact with potential
suspects was given "hush money" after he resigned from the
department, and that the officer "extorted a cash buyout" and
resigned instead of going public with details about corruption within the
department.
But Police Chief Lee Russo said Tuesday that while the
officer did receive a severance payment and signed a nondisclosure agreement
when he resigned about a year and a half ago, the money wasn’t given to keep
him quiet.
"In no way, shape or form was this presented as
covering up anything or as hush money," Russo told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Russo said the officer’s actions regarding alleged sexual
activity were reviewed by the Utah attorney general’s office, but no criminal
wrongdoing was found, and charges were never filed.
Attorneys for Willard’s parents are arguing in a civil
wrongful-death case filed in federal court against Cowley and others that the
case should not be halted while Cowley’s criminal case plays out.
The former detective is charged in 3rd District Court
with second-degree felony manslaughter for the 21-year-old woman’s death in
2012.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Cowley, 33, made a brief initial
appearance in Salt Lake City’s 3rd District Court in the criminal case.
Cowley’s attorney waived reading of the charge, and a
scheduling hearing was set for July 28. Cowley left the courtroom quickly and
did not comment to reporters. If convicted, Cowley could be sentenced to prison
for up to 15 years.
Kevin Salmon, the other detective involved in
Willard’s shooting, was not charged.
Attorney Geragos in his civil court filing alleging
that "hush money" was paid, focused on a portion of a deposition with
West Valley City Manager Wayne Pyle, who said that city administrators
willingly agreed to pay the officer in question:
"Mr. Geragos: OK. Did you know about the
accusations of his sexual liaisons with potential suspects while on his shift
at the time that the $10,000 was authorized?
"Mr. Pyle: Yes.
"Mr. Geragos: And you knew that he was calling
that hush money so he wouldn’t talk?
"Mr. Pyle: I was aware of that after as
[Assistant City Manager] Mr. [Paul] Isaac made it known to me, yes.
"Mr. Geragos: OK. Were you aware at that time
that [the officer] wanted — was it $10,000 payment?
"Mr. Pyle: I don’t remember.
"Mr. Geragos: Whatever it was, you had authorized
it at the time, right?
"My. Pyle: Uh-huh."
Pyle was did not respond to a request for comment.
