A UHP Officer in Davis County, Utah, was given an award for arresting people for DUI last week. She refers to it as hunting for DUIs. During this hunt, you have to wonder how many times the officer gets buck fever and makes a DUI out of an innocent person. How many people’s lives has this officer ruined. I personally have seen many of this officer’s cases dismissed or substantially reduced. I have seen her be rude and abusive to people that she pulls over. She gets the award for making over 200 arrests in 2007, and the year has not ended. She gets the award for making over 750 arrests for DUIs in the past 5 years. Her boss says "she is a great asset to the citizens of Utah." Really. I guess that is one way to look at it, unless she picks you as the person to help her get her next award.
Some of the highlights from the article are:
- This year alone, Steed has stopped more than 2,000 cars, Nordfelt said.
- In her five-year career, she’s made more than 750 arrests for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and more than 1,200 total arrests, according to UHP statistics.
- “The troopers I work with, they spend a lot of their own hunting time backing me and waiting for tow trucks while they could be looking for their own people to take to jail,” she said. “Without the people I work with and the sergeant’s and lieutenant’s support, I couldn’t have made it to these goals.”
According to this article, citizens being pulled over are just statistics that help an officer get an award for stopping and harassing citizens. Is there an award for the officer who stops and helps a person change a tire, who takes the time to investigate and arrest drug dealers, or who puts child molesters behind bars? Maybe there is, but what is the officer’s motivation when we give them awards for stopping 2000 people hunting for DUIs. Seems to me that the motivation is no longer to protect and serve. It seems now, the duty is to stop and harass to see if you too can be Trooper of the year.
Read the whole article by clicking the link below.
Publication:Standard Examiner; Date:Nov 12, 2007; Section:Top of Utah; Page Number:2B
UHP Trooper of the Year named and it’s a first — a female o
• cer
Davis County resident made more than 200 DUI arrests in 2007
BY SAM COOPER Standard-Examiner staff scooper@standard.net
FARMINGTON — Utah Highway Patrol Officer Lisa Steed, who made more than 200 DUI arrests in 2007, has been named Trooper of the Year by the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Colleagues say the West Point resident is the first woman to receive the honor.
“When it comes down to it, this is what I signed on to do, protect the lives of people in Utah,” Steed said.
The award is in recognition of outstanding police work and a community-based approach to public service, according to Sgt. Shane Nordfelt, Steed’s immediate supervisor with the UHP.
“She’s a great asset for the citizens of Utah to have working on the highway patrol,” Nordfelt said. “She works well with the public, she’ll stop for motorists that need help, changing tires or getting off the freeway.”
Fellow troopers say Steed has a remarkable record of police work. In her five-year career, she’s made more than 750 arrests for driving under the influence of a controlled substance, and more than 1,200 total arrests, according to UHP statistics.
This year alone, Steed has stopped more than 2,000 cars, Nordfelt said.
“She’s got a work ethic that’s second to none,” said Kim Farnsworth, with the UHP. “I’ve never seen anyone work so hard.”
Fellow officers say Steed’s ability to work with other team members made her especially qualified for the award.
“One of the things that really impresses me about Lisa is she’s willing to help her other officers,” Nordfelt said. “She’ll also share and relay her experience and knowledge with other officers to help them get better.”
Steed was selected for the award by the Honorary Colonels, a group of influential members of the community, Nordfelt said. She competed for the honor against troopers from around the state.
In addition to being named trooper of the year, Steed received the Public Safety Star which “recognizes a member of the department for extraordinary acts or accomplishments,” according to the UHP.
“For the last five years I basically led the county in DUI arrests, physical custody arrests and traffic stops,” Steed said.
She credits her fellow officers for making the awards possible.
“The troopers I work with, they spend a lot of their own hunting time backing me and waiting for tow trucks while they could be looking for their own people to take to jail,” she said. “Without the people I work with and the sergeant’s and lieutenant’s support, I couldn’t have made it to these goals.”
Steed graduated from Weber State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. While in school, she worked for four years as a police dispatcher.
“She’s not the typical trooper,” Nordfelt said. “There’s not the commanding presence as far as size, (but) she’s just a little ball of fire and energy. I just stay out of her way and let her go to work.”
Law Office of Glen Neeley 
16 responses to “Arresting Utah DUIs is “Hunting” for UHP!”
What a JOKE!
Yes, I’ve been pulled over by Officer Steed. Was I drunk? Nope. Did I get a DUI, DWI, or open container? Nope. Did I get in trouble for anything at all? Supposedly running a stop sign.
I do however remember being thrown against my car, verbally abused, intimidated, interrupted, name-called, and having 5 sobriety tests all while 6 other cop cars showed up.
After verbally harassing me and calling me a liar, saying I didn’t have insurance, she then tried to write other violations on my ticket since she was sure she had busted a DUI, but I wasn’t.
She wouldn’t let me talk. Finally, after yelling at me and embarassing me for an hour, she finally let me say, “I have insurance, let me get the card.” Then after showing her, she actually had to go back to her car and write up a new report.
She is ridiculous and obviously has emotional/mental issues.
Any cop can pull over a lot of people, it takes a GOOD cop to be fair, just and remember their duty.
Lisa Steed signed up because she has a need for abusing her power. Inferiority complex anyone?
Oh and by the way Ms. Steed, your picture is glued on a urinal at one of your favorite spots to hide beside.
That is how much people really respect you.
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I have been arrested by Trooper Steed. The first thing that happened when she told me to “step out of the vehicle” was she accused me being under the influence of drugs. She claimed to be a “marijuana expert” for the state of Utah. In her “innocent search” she mysteriously found Marijuana buds just randomly laying in my vehicle. I honestly have never had marijuana in my vehicle EVER! She called me a liar, slapped handcuffs on me and took me to jail. It was the last weekend of the month and obviously is only looking to get another award, no matter what it takes. I encourage everyone that has had a bad experience with Trooper Steed to stand up against her and file a complaint with UHP.
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I have been arrested by Trooper Steed. The first thing that happened when she told me to “step out of the vehicle” was she accused me being under the influence of drugs. She claimed to be a “marijuana expert” for the state of Utah. In her “innocent search” she mysteriously found Marijuana buds just randomly laying in my vehicle. I honestly have never had marijuana in my vehicle EVER! She called me a liar, slapped handcuffs on me and took me to jail. It was the last weekend of the month and obviously is only looking to get another award, no matter what it takes. I encourage everyone that has had a bad experience with Trooper Steed to stand up against her and file a complaint with UHP.
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I, too, was arrested by Lisa Steed in November of 2007. After nearly 7 miles of tailing me, she flipped the lights. As an abiding citizen, I pulled over completely oblivious to what reasoning she had. When she appeared at my window, she didn’t ask for my license, she didn’t ask for my insurance. She told me to “step out of the vehicle with your hands on the car.” Confused, I agreed. As I was stepping out, I asked why I was being pulled over and if I could grab my license, registration, and insurance. “My computers say your license is suspended and your insurance is expired.” This would have been true.. The month before. When I tried explaining to her that I had current insurance and my license, she claimed “My computer never lies.”
She then proceded in pestering me to take not only a field sobriety test, but SEVERAL DUI blow tests. After passing each one, she then checked my tongue for “marijuana resin.” Which I know for a fact is an old wives tale. I was on my way home from a Thanksgiving dinner. Of course I wouldn’t be under the influence of anything. She then kept asking “when was the last time you smoked pot? When was the last time you drank?” I don’t smoke pot and I was underaged to drink at the time. She then twisted my words, assumed I was stoned because my eyes were glazed over and red (I worked graveyard shifts and had yet to sleep from work the night before.) She slapped the cuffs on me and tossed me in the back of her cruiser. While watching her and a second policeman (also a woman) search through my car AND my trunk (which they are not allowed to do without the drivers consent), I noticed they had pulled something out.. A full can of beer. Like I said, I was underaged at the time and couldn’t buy beer, nor do I drink alcohol due to medical reasons. Where this beer came from? I haven’t any idea, but Lisa Steed sure did some digging.. In her own pockets.
Luckily, my brother and sister were driving behind me and pulled over to hopefully save my car from getting towed. Lisa Steed’s response? “The vehicle is not insured, so I can’t release the car to you.” My brother was with me when I got the insurance updated and he knew it was, and told her he could grab the card as proof. She then tazed him for “approaching her at an alarming pace.” My brother was tazed twice for trying to get my insurance card.
Needless to say, Lisa Steed is not an asset to this state. If anything, she is a terrorist. She deserves to be locked up with all of the other innocent patrons that she has put behind bars.
Lisa Steed, if you ever research your own name, you’re not loved. You’re not a hero. You’re not an impressive policeman. You’re a joke, a liar, a scam artist, and (last portion of this sentence deleted for inappropriate content).
I beg of you, all other “tally marks” of Lisa Steeds.. Stand up. Fight. You need to be heard in this unjust system and this coward deserves to get what’s coming to her.
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She didn’t help me, she came to an accident where I blew a tire and hit the freeway barrier twice, I was scared and she not only accused me of doing drugs and wouldn’t let me in my purse to call my husband because it was a security precaution. She finally let me call, towed my car without my consent or even asking me where, and to end she dropped me off at a gas station at 10 at night. I was still crying and scared and she left me all alone, so much for protecting me. Thanks alot, for nothing she doesn’t deserve any award she should not serve on our force if she doesn’t protect people. I pray to god I never cone across her again.
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I personally know many individuals that she has “pulled over”. Think this way, if you see her behind you, you WILL get pulled over. I do know she is under investigation and i urge any persons that have come into contact with her to leave your stories. This could be a CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. Dont be scarred to come foward. We were built on FREEDOM, not to be terrorized by a female cop with issues. If i get pulled over by her i know my LAWS so im well prepared for her accusations.
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I was pulled over just last night by this officer. She immediately asked me to step out of the car and told me she was an expert in marijuana detection and asked when the last time I used (completely profiling me, longer hair didn’t shave that morning). She co hearsed me into saying I may have smoked the night before, I didn’t but was actually saying I have smoked before. Big mistake. My car had a crack in the windshield (reason she said she pulled me over) no rear view mirror and I wasn’t wearing my seat belt but she had little interest in that and proceeded to run some extensive tests which I passed every one. My wife was in the car with me and she and the car were searched for no reason or consent and impounded the car even though we were less than a block from my house. She made my crying wife walk home. She found nothing but took me in anyways. I was pulled over a month before because of a license plate issue and the officer then was very nice and courteous letting me go with an infraction and he even smelt pot I did smoke that night. Why such a difference in attitudes. This officer said he was looking for stolen cars, a very honorable reason but Lisa obviously wanted to arrest me one way or the other. This lady has issues and needs to be held accountable for the lives shes ruining. My car is not even worth the 500 dollar impound fee and Ill now have to buy another making my wife ride her bike 5 to 7 miles to work until then.
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Add me to the LIST! I dont need to repeat the story, I see that you all have had the EXACT experience I did!
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The truth is that cops like her are why I don’t call the police anymore for near anything. I watched a guy plow into the center median drunk or high as anyone just 3 nights ago and keep driving. If my girlfriend wasn’t in the car I don’t think I would have called it in. She makes the job more dangerous for every cop out there too if you have to expect being abused and having your rights violated by an officer criminals are more likely to use deadly force to get out of a situation.
I would like to see some accountability by the Utah Highway Patrol. I don’t even care if she gets fired but at least make her film every stop and not allow her to take people off camera.
She is a disgrace to law enforcement. I can not believe that this continues to happen with no reassurance for the community (who your suppose to be serving) that anything is being done to ensure peoples right will not be violated by rouge officers.
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Lisa Steed is giving the good cops of Utah a bad name! I read the story in the City Weekly. I am not a smoker or a drinker nor do I do drugs. I am all for cops arresting legitimate drunken drivers, but apparently she is financially and socially destroying the lives of a lot of innocent people. This woman needs to be put on leave of absence or fired. As an honest hardworking citizen of UT, I am now afraid to innocently go into the city she patrols for fear of having my innocent life destroyed!
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Is there a pettition going to have this joke of a officer removed? More importantly is there a group to join or some kind of civillian review board for state police. I personally think its an attack on our civil liberties to take blood before an arrest and in a un-sanitary way on the side of the road. Not to mention there is the “chain of custody” issue that they could plant anyones blood and say you have all kinds of substances in your system
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Unfortunately, other troopers are picking up on her example in an effort to garnish the “Trooper of the Year” award. My girlfriend and I decided to go out to a nightclub, She was the designated drive so drank only water at the club. Within 2 blocks of leaving the club we were pulled over for “failure to signal” which was a lie. the trooper smelled alcohol in the car (Duh! I had been drinking!) and demanded she perform a field sobriety test. she declined, which is her right, since they are only used to invent a charge of impairment, not to prove your innocence. She was arrested, hauled off to jail and her car was impounded. Of course the blood test came back well below the legal limit, but it still cost her over $4,000 for the towing fee and a lawyer. And to top it off, they are still insisting on pursuing the charge, so she will be going to a trial. The trooper has another notch on his belt, but an innocent citizen has a permanent scar on hers. She is terrified to drive at night now because she is afraid whe will be pulled over again for no reason and subjected to the same treatment. Something needs to be done to stop these witch hunts.
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Officer Steed is the best officer we ever had in all of U.S. She is a Prime example on how policemen should work. All she does is bust drunk drivers… Drug users… and ruin peoples lives financially. I mean with this economy happening, they will happily bounce back up with happy smiles… Who the hell am i kidding…. after all these stories i read.. she needs to be put under lock and key by the very people she abused. My friend told me a story about this wretched witch how she pulled over an old man at night, riding a bicycle, if i remembered, she said that this man is a veteran. She pulled him over cause pulled out his pills and she suspected him to be a drug user. She told him, when was the last time you drank and smoked… He answered, Miss, i havent done such thing ever since i was in high school. He passed the drug tests, the usual crap cops do, then she arrested him cause she believed he was a drug user due to the pills he is taking. I was like…. Holy Crap!!!
I had to go look this up and what do you know, more similar or even worse stories i find in here. Im glad i don’t live in Utah. I would fear living in the same city as her, Recommending to live some where else, Create an Angry mob and run her ass out of town, or…. live in fear… I love to see one day out of the blue, watching the news and steed was the headline, Lisa Steeded her way through many innocent lives, Send to 130 years in prison for power abuse. Get your cranial hollow head out of that Officer Scrooge.
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Did any of you pulled over notice a brunette with a radio tucked in the back of her pants sitting by the entrance / exit of the bar you were leaving before you got pulled over by Lisa Steed? It’s like Lisa has a 6th sense about who has been drinking…
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I have not personally been pulled over by Lisa Steed but I have been pulled over by another UHP who used similar tactics. He pulled me over for “running a yellow light” even though there was no way I would have been able to stop before the intersection, which was annoying, but semi-expected. He walked to my window and told me to step out of the car, and walked away, giving me pretty much no choice. I got out and met him behind my car, and he pulled me onto the curb (out of view from his dash cam). He asked me why I ran the yellow light, and what I was trying to hide. I calmly explained that I ran the yellow light so I didn’t pose the risk of a rear-end accident by having to slam on the brakes. He asked me for my license and gave it a quick glance (probably noticed that I was underage), but didn’t ask for my insurance or registration. He then pulled out a pen with a red light on the end and told me to follow it with my eyes. He began darting the pen in and around my face, before I even had a chance to ready myself, making it very difficult to follow, but I did my best. He said, “So have you been smoking marijuana in the past 24 hours?” Confused, I let out a “Wh-wh-what?” and he explained, “Your eyes are not converging in the center. That usually is a sign you have smoked marijuana recently.” Completely baffled, I kindly told him that his statement made no sense. I did tell him the truth, which was that I worked graveyards and even though it was 4pm, I was tired and worn down (and still in my pajamas). He questioned me, still. “Have you used any illegal drugs or alcohol today? Have you ever used them before? Have you ever smoked marijuana before? Are you on any prescription medications? Have you ever used prescription drugs recreationally?” I answered no to all his questions, becoming increasingly irritated with an annoyed, confused look on my face. Perhaps recognizing this annoyance and seeing that I wasn’t giving in, he handed me my license and told me to have a good evening.
Even though nothing became of it, it was still intimidating, scary, and unpleasant. I was harassed for a simple traffic violation, and was pushed to admit to things I had done wrong in my past that had nothing to do with the situation at hand. It was an eye-opening experience. Don’t give in, and don’t let UHP bend you over to get an arrest.
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I had a friend arrested for DUI earlier this year by Lisa Steed, for being on prescribed pain killers from being at the hospital earlier that day due to an injury. Lisa ran his plates while he was at a gas pump and pulled him off to the side to perform the sobriety tests, which she used his plates expiring that month as justification and the tests after he admitted he had been to the hospital earlier for an injury, hence the pain killer prescription. Even though he had a valid prescription and hadn’t taken a pill for hours, she arrested him for DUI and impounded his vehicle. It has ended up costing him over 4k to recover and pay fines, along with attend forced DUI classes and pay for those as well.
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