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Post #1

I very seldom ask for you as FB friends to share my posts. But I ask now. Since the Nurse Wubbles incident/arrest in SLC, I feel it’s time to tell my stories. The real stories. This post is just the first of many to come. (Update- #2 & #3 are now up on my wall)

First, I love the American Police Officer. I was once one. In my opinion, the things they go through everyday are unparalleled to any profession in our country with the exception of the military. I know what their families go through daily; wives and kids especially. The regular line cop can be literally pinned between horrible admin practices, and the public. This is why the thin blue line only gets thinner and thinner daily. We need cops. We need good cops. More importantly, we need law and order in America.

With that said, we also need more truth and honesty from within some of these upper police admins. This is not in all departments. But it was in mine, when I worked with some squads I did. Not all Sgt's in the PD gave these absolute mandates. They didn't all play the game. Neither did every cop.

I believe we need to have a real conversation about a giant elephant in the National Room regarding law enforcement and how some of these departments operate deep down; More importantly, from the top down. I believe it's some administrations that put officers more in harms way than even a "bad guy" could.

Most people who know my story believe I first garnered the attention of the Salt Lake City Police administration for “refusing” to participate in the Utah Gay Pride Parade. This is not true. I simply did not want to perform/ participate in the parade or be seen as possibly endorsing messages that were contrary to who I am and try to be. I told them I would do security. I ultimately lost my badge and gun for “discrimination”. https://www.ksl.com/?sid=33605041 It was truly devastating. It was like a death in many aspects.

What the public doesn’t know, nor many officers, is that I was passed up for two positions before ultimately joining the motorcycle squad in 2013. Why? I was ordered to arrest 5 people, per day, AS PART OF A QUOTA! Not just traffic tickets, but misdemeanor arrests. Criminal records on citizens of SLC; all for numbers. I told my sergeant, no. That night after only getting 3 arrests, I was ordered to stay after shift another hour, without pay, to get 2 more arrests. I was screamed at in front of my squad. They went home. I stayed with my sergeant and I still would not do it. I felt that was the beginning of the end. And truly it was.

My name started to get tarnished in the PD among the upper brass. This was an order I actually refused. Not a parade. I felt It was unconstitutional to mandate arrests - which I specifically told my sergeant and this was later conveyed to the administration. I said, "what if the public knew we HAD to arrest 5 citizens each day?" He didn't seem to care at all. "Just do what I tell you."

The current administration knows of this story (and many other scandals I am prepared to tell in the next several weeks on FB) and has done nothing about them. This seems to be their M.O. Cover-up after cover-up. Only until it hits the press. Then all the sudden they are so "concerned, alarmed, taken back, etc, etc, etc." They already KNOW.

Today, the Department is embroiled in yet another scandal - and I'm tired of it. This one involving an arrest at the University of Utah Hospital. Which they knew about for weeks before and did nothing. Today they said "there's no acceptable reason" why people weren't placed on admin leave. I'll tell you the reason; they didn't want to take "acceptable" responsibility and do the right thing, at the right time.

I watch this disturbing video and wonder if this is not another symptom of the ongoing failure at the highest levels the Salt Lake City Police Department. You be the judge. I am resolved to tell my stories. I will be releasing more information (FB Posts) leading up to the end of this month when I hope to have a completed version of my story - in book form - that we are working tirelessly on. It will be available for anyone who cares about this issue of National importance with police agencies around the country.

Many in our nation think it’s racism that fuels the fire between police and the public. Sure, there are some racist cops out there. Just like any profession. But few and far between; I've never met a racist cop in my 7 years on the PD. I don’t believe it’s racism that runs rampant in police agencies, however quotaism does. Statism. Mandatory stopism. Why? All for statistics that lead to Federal and local funding/revenue for many police agencies. I will explain that in further detail in my next several posts.

My ultimate goal is for leaders at the State, National and local levels to address policing at its roots - to include the eradication of administrative practices (driving stats and quotas) that work against the citizens we are sworn to protect by eliciting behavior in officers like what we saw at the hospital last week. We were created to be PEACE officers, not revenue generators for cities. This happens in smaller departments just as much.

The pressures on these officers are real. I felt them daily. Get your numbers! They are born of a lack of effective leadership. I do not excuse what the officer in the video did - he is accountable for his own actions. But I am very suspicious of the environment created around him by those who supervise him - all the way up the chain of command. These are institutional problems and they need to be exposed - for the good of the officers and the good of the community they serve. I realize this will bring scrutiny from many; and on all sides. But I feel strongly it needs to come to light.

The DA’s Office (Sim Gill) was highly critical of me when my story first emerged on the global media scene, three years ago. He didn't even know the real story before he said I should "be in a different profession." Who knows what he would say now. Probably nothing. I guess we will see how far the rabbit hole goes.

I ask for your prayers for me and my family while we take this on, and many other issues that need to be addressed regarding law enforcement in America. Starting with the Salt Lake City Police Department.

I also apologize to Nurse Wubbles. If someone knows her who reads this, please tell her that. I would have not let that happen if I were on scene. I can promise you that.

God bless,

Eric Moutsos