South Salt Lake Police officer trainee arrested on suspicion of DUI
Jan 28, 2026, 1:50 PM | Updated: 1:52 pm
A South Salt Lake police vehicle is pictured at a fire in South Salt Lake on Monday, March 15, 2021. (Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SOUTH SALT LAKE — A police officer in training with the South Salt Lake Police Department was booked into jail Sunday after allegedly being under the influence of alcohol while on duty.
Michael Starley Hatch, 60, was driving a police vehicle on his patrol shift when his field training officer in the passenger seat noticed the smell of alcohol, according to a police affidavit.
The South Salt Lake Police Department supervisor then asked every police officer on duty to submit a breath test. After Hatch was the only one to test positive, Utah Highway Patrol was called in to do a full investigation
Responding troopers noted the smell of alcohol coming from Hatch and performed several tests that proved positive for alcohol.
Hatch’s breath alcohol concentration was 0.075%, the affidavit said. Hatch told the troopers that he had consumed a pint of tequila the night before, at approximately 11 p.m.
The affidavit noted Hatch was on duty as a police officer and was armed with a handgun while intoxicated. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.
