American Fork Police Department
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OFFICER RECORDS

Christopher Slate Blackburn

Overview

Christopher Slate Blackburn is a former American Fork police officer involved in encounters with Cody Greenland and Janene Thorpe that later resulted in civil lawsuits. He also faced Utah and Idaho criminal proceedings arising from allegations involving his minor sister-in-law.

Blackburn resigned from the American Fork Police Department in April 2022 after the department learned of the Idaho investigation. He later pleaded guilty to felony injury to a child. In January 2026, the Idaho court imposed a nine-year prison sentence but retained jurisdiction and placed Blackburn in a prison-based evaluation and treatment program lasting up to 365 days. After reviewing his performance, the court could place him on probation or require him to continue serving the sentence.

Other names used: Slate Blackburn; C. Slate Blackburn; Christopher S. Blackburn; S. Blackburn; Christopher Blackburn.

Employment

Employment records are available below.

Officer Blackburn started working for the American Fork Police Department on June 10, 2019. During his employment with AFPD, Blackburn was among the officers involved in encounters with Cody Greenland and Janene Thorpe. Both later filed civil lawsuits that named Blackburn among the defendants.

In November 2021, the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho began investigating an allegation that he sexually abused his minor sister-in-law. According to Chief Cameron Paul, the department did not learn of the allegation until later, when Blackburn informed him after being contacted by a detective. Paul said the department placed Blackburn on administrative leave that same day and opened an internal affairs investigation. Blackburn resigned shortly afterward; Paul characterized his departure as a forced resignation.

  • Transparent Utah Public Compensation Records
    Fiscal Year Entity Employee Title Wages Benefits Total
    2022 American Fork City Blackburn, C. Slate Police Officer I $50,538.80 $27,937.01 $78,475.81
    2021 American Fork City Blackburn, C. Slate Police Officer I $46,484.45 $29,921.46 $76,405.91
    2020 American Fork City Blackburn, C. Slate Police Officer $43,679.22 $28,047.75 $71,726.97
    2019 American Fork City Blackburn, Christopher S. Police Officer $1,619.20 $1,489.46 $3,108.66

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  • National Police Index Profile

Criminal Cases

Supporting court documents and hearing transcripts are available below.

Christopher Slate Blackburn’s Idaho criminal case arose from allegations that he sexually abused his 13-year-old sister-in-law during a family trip to Grace, Idaho, in August or September 2021. According to the probable-cause affidavit, the alleged abuse occurred in a tent. The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office began investigating in November 2021 after receiving a report from Idaho Health and Welfare and later reviewed a recorded interview conducted by Utah investigators. Blackburn was an American Fork police officer at the time.

A related fugitive-from-justice proceeding was opened in Utah’s Fourth District Court under case number 241404021. In November 2024, Blackburn waived formal extradition procedures and consented to return to Idaho. The Utah case recorded an extradition disposition on November 20, 2024. His waiver expressly stated that it was not an admission of guilt.

In Idaho case CR15-23-0356, Blackburn was originally charged with felony lewd conduct with a minor. Under a binding plea agreement, the charge was amended to felony injury to a child. He pleaded guilty to the amended charge on August 22, 2025. During the plea hearing, he acknowledged placing the child’s safety and well-being at risk and admitted the amended charge. His conviction was for injury to a child rather than the original lewd-conduct charge.

On January 9, 2026, the court imposed a nine-year prison sentence, consisting of six years fixed and three years indeterminate, while retaining jurisdiction and placing Blackburn in a prison-based evaluation and treatment program, commonly called a “rider” in Idaho. The judge explained that the program could last up to 365 days. After reviewing Blackburn’s performance, the court could place him on probation or require him to continue serving the sentence. The court also imposed a $1,000 fine and statutory court costs.

Police Encounters

POST Certification

In a September 28, 2026 email, Utah POST stated that Christopher Slate Blackburn relinquished his POST certifications in 2023.