BOKISSONTHRONE: 2 Utah police officers suspended for roles in ‘Hot Shots’ bikini calendar

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

2 Utah police officers suspended for roles in ‘Hot Shots’ bikini calendar

Busty bikini-clad models firing high-powered assault rifles apparently proved too much to resist for two Utah police officers. Members of Utah's National Guard were also disciplined after the women were filmed riding in tanks and other military vehicles at a National Guard training site.

Members of Utah's National Guard were also disciplined after the women were filmed riding in tanks and other military vehicles at a National Guard training site.

The state’s Department of Public Safety suspended the two peace officers after video emerged of them participating in an unauthorized calendar shoot involving British models last year, internal documents have revealed.

Rob Wilkinson — a sergeant with the Utah Highway Patrol — was suspended for three days without pay in December while Justin Hansen — an agent assigned to the State Bureau of Investigation — was similarly suspended for one, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The men didn't ask for permission from their superiors and even wore their uniforms while on the set of the photo shoot, internal documents revealed.

That followed both men seen wearing police uniforms during the June 3 shoot for the provocative "Hot Shots" calendar at the privately owned Big Shot Ranch near Grantsville. It also allegedly followed them failing to seek permission.

According to an internal affairs report, obtained by the Tribune, an acquaintance of the two men asked them to help supervise the scantily-clad model's firing line.

The men said they didn't inform their superiors about their participation because they "recognized the potential repercussions."

A YouTube video promoting the calendar shows the women playfully firing guns and riding in tanks and other military vehicles.

The creators of the calendar, which sell for $14.99 each online, claim that a part of its proceeds went toward the U.K. charity, Help For Heroes.

"The calendar's primary aim is to raise money for the Help For Heroes charity which we have consistently done over the last 4 years," Hot Shot’s website states while referencing a British charity. The percentage of proceeds from the $14.99 calendars was not released.

The Tribune reports that the two officers weren't the only ones eager to help the ladies, pre-authorization or not.

Soldiers reportedly allowed the models onto the National Guard training site of Camp Williams for the same dusty photo shoot where the women are seen enjoying joy rides in military vehicles.

That apparent lapse in judgment resulted in the forced retiring of one non-commissioned officer — someone described as likely in the sergeant ranks — as well as the discipline of three other soldiers.

Requests for comment from Hot Shots and Utah's Department of Public Safety were not immediately returned.