Alex Wubbels' Arresting Officer Jeff Payne Claims He Did Nothing Wrong - Plans to Sue

Former Detective Jeff Payne lost his job over his "confrontation" with Utah Nurse Alex Wubbels over a year ago as she was trying to protect the rights of her unconscious patient. Now he is saying he did nothing wrong and plans to sue the city that fired him. Nurses Announcements Archive

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Former Detective Jeff Payne lost his job over his "confrontation" with Nurse Alex Wubbels over a year ago. Now he is saying he did nothing wrong.

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"She was doing her job," he said. "I was doing my job. And unfortunately, it conflicted. And I am the one who bears most of the burden for it."

Payne insisted he had implied consent to get the blood sample from a crash victim under Alex Wubbels' care. When she refused, Payne handcuffed her.

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He insists he was only following orders that day - his boss, Lt. James Tracy, had ordered that he arrest Wubbels if she didn't let him draw the patient's blood.

When asked if he thought he used too much force, he said he was just following his training.

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I couldn't believe this incident went worldwide

He plans to seek $1.5 million associated with lost wages and benefits, emotional distress and defamation of character.

What are your thoughts? Should he be awarded $1.5 million for simply "doing his job"?

For more on this story, go to Former Detective Jeff Payne isn't sorry for arresting Alex Wubbels and he plans to sue for $1.5 million - The Salt Lake Tribune

The very nature of a drive through means that it is foreseeable that some will spill. The same concept applies to many situations. That's why housekeeping puts signs when they mop, that's why swimming pools are required to have fences.

so someone else is expected to pay for your stupidity?? not where I come from.

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so someone else is expected to pay for your stupidity?? not where I come from.

Spills happen. McDonald's had a duty to make sure that their customers did not suffer third degree burns from an accidental spill. They breached that duty. The bad part, it wasn't even a negligent breach. They willfully breached that duty, which is why the jury awarded such a large amount in punitive damages. Punitive damages being damages that are specifically awarded to punish the party for their behavior.

But, I understand that you are not going to change your opinion about this so I'm going to bow out to not derail this thread more than we already have.

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Specializes in OB.

There's a whole HBO documentary about that McDonald's incident called "Hot Coffee." It's actually really interesting and the story is more complex than a lot of people realize.

With regards to the OP...I think we can all agree that cop is a weak, pathetic bully. Hopefully the lawsuit never even comes to pass to save that nurse further grief.

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Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

I remember reading something at the time that his superior was demoted, but don't know if that actually occurred.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.
Why would it be the doctors' role? Who says they are trained to cool down hot headed law enforcement individuals? How about hospital administration?

No one was cooling him down. And I agree Horseshoe - it's not up to the docs. Hospital admin are usually so far removed, that seems unlikely. He WAS cautioned. There wasn't going to be a "cooling off" - Officer (Detective?!) Angry had been there THREE HOURS and he arrived to do one thing. Get blood evidence that could hopefully be twisted into making an innocent victim (Wubbels patient) somehow responsible for a police chase.

He was there to help out another cop. Find a way to "blame a victim".

He was stopped by Nurse Wubbels and the fact she knew LAW. She was superb as she advocated for and protected her patient.

Thankfully, she involved admin and was clear on what was needed for her patient to give consent. Officer Detective Angry didn't get his blood evidence and that made his blood boil. Prolly thought "I will show them". Deep down he had to know he was stepping in the doodie. Leaping into the abyss. He didn't care - his blood was boiling.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Although -

I don't think a fire hose opened up on him would have cooled him off.

Although, I've got to admit that the thought of a 2 1/2" hose line trained on his chest aiming 300+ gallons per minute of some nice cold Salt Lake City water on him has made me smile.

He'd have just gotten up dried off and still flipped the switch on that career dissipation light.

Some folks just need to be hosed!

:angel:

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

The officer is a jerk. Every department has at least one. They're a function of weak management ("We can't fire or discipline him because of the UNION!"). Eventually they cause a huge public black eye to the department and are finally gotten rid of. His coworkers are very likely breathing a big sigh of relief at not having Officer A.H. in their midst anymore.

He'll huff and puff about a lawsuit for awhile. Then he'll run (and lose) for some local public office. Then he'll get a job as mall security or drive truck. That's how these things usually pan out.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
I think Payne is FOS. Alex was doing HER job in protecting her patient. I hope he loses the suit and has to pay for *her* court and attorney's costs.

While agree with you that he was out of line he is not suing Alex - He is suing the city that fired after he followed orders from his superior offer to arrest her. No saying he was in the right but Alex is not in danger of lawsuit here.

Hppy

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I remember reading something at the time that his superior was demoted, but don't know if that actually occurred.

I believe he was busted to the street. I had hoped that would cause him sufficient embarrassment to quit, or worse, apparently it did not.

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Specializes in ED, PACU, CM.

Duplicate, sorry.

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No one was cooling him down. And I agree Horseshoe - it's not up to the docs. Hospital admin are usually so far removed, that seems unlikely. He WAS cautioned. There wasn't going to be a "cooling off" - Officer (Detective?!) Angry had been there THREE HOURS and he arrived to do one thing. Get blood evidence that could hopefully be twisted into making an innocent victim (Wubbels patient) somehow responsible for a police chase.

He was there to help out another cop. Find a way to "blame a victim".

He was stopped by Nurse Wubbels and the fact she knew LAW. She was superb as she advocated for and protected her patient.

Thankfully, she involved admin and was clear on what was needed for her patient to give consent. Officer Detective Angry didn't get his blood evidence and that made his blood boil. Prolly thought "I will show them". Deep down he had to know he was stepping in the doodie. Leaping into the abyss. He didn't care - his blood was boiling.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Although -

I don't think a fire hose opened up on him would have cooled him off.

Although, I've got to admit that the thought of a 2 1/2" hose line trained on his chest aiming 300+ gallons per minute of some nice cold Salt Lake City water on him has made me smile.

He'd have just gotten up dried off and still flipped the switch on that career dissipation light.

Some folks just need to be hosed!

:angel:

Alex had the Administrator on the phone. That particular Admin was in the loop.

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Maybe he should be charged with interfering with medical care, assaulting a nurse?

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Maybe he should be charged with interfering with medical care, assaulting a nurse?

actually, false arrest, unlawful restraint, kidnapping....

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