Policeman is charged in death of motorist

A Taylorsville police officer who hit and killed another motorist while responding to help fellow officers was charged Friday with negligent homicide, a class A misdemeanor. He was driving with his vehicle's lights and sirens on at the time of the collision.

The filing of charges against officer Joseph James Corbett, 31, has caused uneasiness among some law enforcement officers who wonder if the legal action could make officers overly cautious in responding to incidents for fear of legal repercussions.

Corbett hit another vehicle at the intersection of 4700 South and Redwood Road at about 12:40 a.m. on Feb. 7, killing John Terry Douglas of Tooele.

Corbett was traveling 58 mph in a 40 mph zone, according to court documents. Douglas was traveling an estimated 13 mph. Although his lights and sirens were on, a review of police dispatch logs showed Corbett "never radioed that he was participating in a pursuit or emergency call," according to court documents. "He was not authorized to engage in a pursuit or respond to an emergency call."

But some familiar with the case, including some law enforcers who wished to remain anonymous, are questioning whether the accident rose to the level of gross negligence.

Corbett was on his way to 5400 South and Redwood Road to assist with a high-speed chase in which other Taylorsville police officers were involved. A call was put out for officers with road spikes to assist. Corbett had road spikes in his vehicle.

What is clear is that Corbett was not a part of the high-speed chase itself, said Taylorsville Police Sgt. Rosie Rivera.

Any officer called to an emergency in which they use lights and sirens, whether they are in a pursuit or not, engage in what police call "emergency driving."

Under the Taylorsville Police Department's guidelines for emergency driving, an officer can only go 15 miles over the speed limit and must slow down when approaching an intersection and check to make sure it is clear before going through, Rivera said. Corbett was going just three miles over the allowable speed, according to court documents.

The Taylorsville policy also states, "When you turn your (overhead) lights on, you should notify dispatch," she said.

Several witnesses told investigators Douglas had the green light at the intersection, according to court documents.