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Salt Lake City Police Department deputy chief on paid leave

Posted at 9:02 PM, Mar 06, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-14 13:53:31-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- In a FOX 13 News exclusive, we’ve learned one of the Salt Lake City Police Department’s seven Deputy Chiefs has been placed on administrative leave.

Deputy Chief Rick Findlay is responsible for the department’s investigative unit and oversees 11 detective squads.

Findlay has been on paid leave since November 8, 2013 – nearly four months. According to a website that discloses public employee salaries, Findlay’s salary is more than $100,000 a year. Findlay was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief in March of 2010.

The department’s Public Relations Unit confirms that Findlay is on paid administrative leave. Chief Chris Burbank replied to a FOX 13 interview request with this statement:

“I can confirm that I placed Findlay on administrative leave pending an investigation for violating the city harassment policy.” The statement goes on to say, “This is a personnel issue. No further comments at this time,”

The city’s harassment policy states, in part, “Salt Lake City Corporation is committed to maintaining a work environment free of discrimination and harassment based on a person's sex (including gender harassment, harassment due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), race, color, age, religion, disability, ancestry, or national origin, consistent with applicable laws.”

The policy continues, “Sexual harassment is a form of harassment with specific distinguishing characteristics. It consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature...” “Harassment in violation of this policy may occur even though the conduct occurs outside of the workplace.”

You can read the city’s complete harassment policy by clicking here.

FOX 13 News tried to get a hold of Findlay to offer him a chance to comment. We left messages on his work phone, via email, and knocked on numerous doors of listed addresses. Our attempts were not successful and messages were not returned.