SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) -The UHP is finally talking about controversial Trooper Lisa Steed.
But, in so doing, it may have raised more questions than it answered.
For nearly a year, ABC 4 News has been investigating the conduct of Utah's former Trooper of the Year.
But with the surfacing this week of a new critical memo about Steed, the UHP finally decided to speak out.
Not that long ago, Steed was making hundreds of DUI arrests.
Now, she's off the streets and the subject of internal review.
Steed has, among other things, made headlines for:
1) Tasering a man while still in his car. The state settled his lawsuit for $40,000 dollars.
2) Making a DUI stop on a man on a motorized bike – a man with epilepsy and cerebral palsy who took medications for his ailments.
3) Being reprimanded twice.
4) Having her credibility questioned by both judges and prosecutors.
So Friday, ABC 4 asked the UHP the same question viewers have asked us: why is Steed still on the force?
ABC 4: "This has been going on for years. How much more information do you need?”
Major Michael Rapich, Assistant UHP Superintendent: “The best I can tell you right now is that process is very actively on-going."
And then, this week, that new UHP internal memo came to light.
Written several years ago, it raised questions - among her own supervisors - about Steed's DUI arrests and her honesty.
So, ABC 4 asked the UHP another question.
ABC 4: "Exactly what does someone have to do to get kicked out of the UHP?”
Major Rapich: “I can't answer that question.”
ABC 4: “We're just asking the questions which the public is asking us.”
Major Rapich: “I know the questions you want to ask Mr. Vanocur, but, right now, I guess I am going to have to ask you to respect the fact that I can't answer those questions."
But given all the headlines Steed has made over recent years, we had one final question to ask.
ABC 4: "This is somebody who was the Trooper of the Year. Is this the conduct of somebody who is a Trooper of the Year?”
Major Rapich: “All of the accusations as you've laid them out? Absolutely not."
Friday, the UHP declined to say when its internal review of Trooper Steed would be completed.
FOLLOW CHRIS VANOCUR ON TWITTER: @cvan4
