Police apologize for slain student’s name in awards program

University of Utah police have apologized after including the name of a slain student in the program for a ceremony that recognized employees.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the police department awarded a dispatcher for the handling of a call involving Lauren McCluskey before her death, and it awarded two administrators for how they dealt with questions after the deadly shooting.

The 21-year-old track athlete was shot in late October by 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, who later killed himself.

An independent review was critical of the university’s handling of McCluskey’s concerns about Rowland, finding failures within the police department.

Her father, Matt McCluskey, says the idea of awarding the handling of the case “borders on obscene.”

Police spokesman Dan Metcalf says the apology was necessary and heartfelt.