SLC Detective Jeff Payne appeals firing after nurse arrest

A Utah police detective is appealing the decision to fire him after he was caught on video roughly handcuffing a nurse because she refused to allow him to draw blood from an unconscious patient.

Detective Jeff Payne filed the appeal with Salt Lake City officials late Thursday.

His attorney Greg Skordas says the termination goes too far and would not have happened if the video hadn’t drawn widespread attention online.

It shows Payne arresting nurse Alex Wubbels July 26 after she said he couldn’t take the blood for a car-crash investigation without a warrant or patient consent.

Chief Mike Brown said Payne was fired because actions brought disrepute to the department and called into question his ability to do his job.

Payne worked for Salt Lake City Police for 27 years before he was fired Tuesday.