From Deseret News archives:
Wasatch deputy dies during Provo traffic stop
"If you had a question about something, Scott would help you, and he'd make you feel like a million bucks afterward," Irvine said of his friend and colleague, former UHP trooper and current Wasatch County Sheriff's Sgt. Scott Hathcock, who collapsed and died Thursday morning during a routine traffic stop in Provo Canyon.
Hathcock, 48, of Heber City, was declared dead at the scene after he pulled a car over for speeding along U.S. 189.
While standing outside the car waiting for the driver to pull out paperwork, Hathcock collapsed. The driver and a passer-by tried CPR until emergency crews arrived, but they couldn't revive him, said Summit County sheriff's deputy Josh Wall.
Officials still don't know what caused the collapse.
Friend and former fellow deputy Jed Olsen said he knew of no health problems other than a heart murmur Hathcock was diagnosed with 13 years ago, which had never been a problem.
He remembers Hathcock as a good father who loved his family and as a hard-working but humorous officer.
Hathcock is the first officer the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office has lost in the line of duty in 18 years, when they lost a deputy fighting a fire, Wall said.
"Some people that know their stuff, they'll talk down to you, make you feel like you're very little, but not with Scott," Irvine said. "He made you feel really good."
Although Hathcock had every right to be cocky about his wealth of knowledge, he never was, friends and colleagues all said.
Instead, he used his insight to help and instruct thousands of officers about correctly using the Intoxilyzer a device used to check alcohol levels of suspected intoxicated drivers.
He also created PowerPoint presentations, officer training videos and testified in court all while keeping a positive attitude and a subtle sense of humor.
"He's just one of those great guys," Irvine said. "You were better because you knew him."
Lt. Steve Winward with the UHP called Hathcock one of the best officers he's ever trained.
"He was phenomenal," Winward said. "He had quite a good rapport with many officers throughout the entire state. He's the type of person that when he taught the class, officers were at the edge of their seat the entire time."
Recent comments
My husband is a police officer and we lost one of our own last...
Semalee Bilbrey | Aug. 20, 2008 at 6:26 a.m.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY. SCOTT WAS THE BEST OF...
J. NELSON | Aug. 15, 2008 at 9:36 p.m.
May he rest in peace and my prayers and thoughts are with his family.
H. Green | Aug. 15, 2008 at 2:19 p.m.
- Utah Utes football: 20 years ago 11:15 p.m.
- Sports briefs 11:13 p.m.
- BYU, Utah scoring summary 11:12 p.m.
- No. 4 Frogs crush the Lobos 11:08 p.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 11:04 p.m.
- Aces score early, often 11:03 p.m.
- BYU is champion of the state 11:02 p.m.
- Utah Jazz game at a glance 10:55 p.m.
- Sharing is key to Jazz shooting 10:54 p.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 10:53 p.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Cougars turn back Wildcats'
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- Running game key to BYU offense
- Woods, wife unavailable for interview
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes, 26-23
373 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Letters: Rushing to judge Palin
134 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
114 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Letters: Trump card for believers
99 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
OK Max - you want real names - here it is from Draper, Utah. You're the one...
It was nice of us and the refs to help BYU win tonight. Did anyone hear...
Coogs going to the BCS right?.... there BCS Busters yes?
Wow! Max Hall has had such a wonderful career at BYU. He is an example to all...
While Max Hall should not have used the word "hate," he described the...
Stay classy Hall. Must have felt good to win in OT at home against a true...
Awesome, dude! "Tiny minds, some red, some blue hide online their venom...
The best part? Hall will always have a winning record against the Utes....
Can't argue with Max's reasons. Look reporters you asked the question, you...
Foreign terrorists get, in fact, plenty of coverage from lots of sources....



