SANDY, Utah, April 24, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Sandy Mayor Kurt Bradburn has fired Police Chief Kevin Thacker — effective immediately — after an investigation found substantial evidence that the chief committed inappropriate, unwanted acts on department employees.
“This particular behavior is not something I am willing to tolerate,” Bradburn told reporters at a Tuesday afternoon news conference.
Bradburn declined to discuss the exact nature of the behavior or who had reported it, in order to protect the privacy of the victim or victims, he said. He did say that the investigation found that Thacker had a history of inappropriate behavior with employees, and that he had been advised in the past that unwanted advances were inappropriate.
“There were several instances when the behavior was brought to his attention,” Bradburn said.
“There were multiple corroborators” who had witnessed Thacker’s inappropriate actions, which created a negative working environment in the police department, Bradburn said.
“This is the right decision for the police department and the city of Sandy,” the mayor said. “It sends the message this behavior will not be tolerated by the city of Sandy.”
Bradburn said a nationwide search would be conducted to fill the position left vacant by Thacker. Until a permanent replacement is selected, Sandy Deputy Police Chief William O’Neal will continue to be the acting police chief. O’Neal stepped into that role on April 2, when the investigation began.
Thacker was sworn in as chief in May of 2014. The Sandy Police Department consists of 112 sworn officers and 36 civilian employees, according to its website. Sandy has a population of 89,000 on 22.3 square miles.
