Gov. Cox killed 2 investigations into Utah’s top military commander. Now the Army has demoted the general.

Years after Gov. Spencer Cox quashed two investigations into Utah’s previous top military leader, an Army review board knocked the retired two-star general’s rank down to lieutenant colonel following a probe of the commander’s behavior while in uniform.

That, according to Army spokesperson Cynthia O. Smith, “was determined the last grade in which he honorably served.”

Cox announced in August 2023 that he was placing then-Maj. Gen. Michael Turley on paid administrative leave due to the Army’s investigation, the conclusions of which the governor’s office said it had not received a copy of. Four days later, a news release from the governor’s office said the adjutant general had decided to retire.

The Army Grade Determination Review Board’s decision, first reported by Task & Purpose, was based on substantiated findings by the Department of the Army Inspector General that Turley “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate,” Smith said in a statement Friday. “We consider this matter closed.”

Smith did not provide answers on the timeline of the board’s deliberations, but Keith Garner, a spokesperson for the Utah National Guard, said it learned of the conclusion “about a week ago.” Garner said he did not have information about how the demotion affects Turley’s retirement benefits.

Spokespeople for Cox did not respond to questions sent Friday morning.

The governor’s office was alerted to concerns about Turley as early as two years before he was placed on leave. Cox received two anonymous letters complaining about Turley’s conduct in 2021, a Salt Lake Tribune investigation found.

One, which said it was drafted by multiple guard members, accused Turley of creating an “extremely dangerous” climate in the guard.

Documents kept by the Cox’s office and obtained by The Tribune indicate the governor spoke privately with Turley, asked him to survey his own troops about the guard’s climate, then dropped the inquiry.

Legal counsel for the governor agreed to provide redacted versions of those records last year following a monthslong appeals process that also involved the Division of Human Resource Management.

Among the 70 troops who responded to the survey Cox requested, according to results The Tribune obtained from the Utah National Guard, more than a quarter reported the presence of “sexually harassing behaviors,” while one in five said there were “racially harassing behaviors.”

Cox launched a second investigation in 2022 after a reporter for Military Times, Davis Winkie, reached out asking for comment on the Army’s separate and simultaneous investigation.

But after his administration spoke with Turley, the ex-adjutant general’s attorney, and two employees of the more than 7,000-member force, Cox again ended his probe. Interview notes say Turley twice “volunteered that if the Gov. says this doesn’t look good, he will retire.” Cox, at the time, seemingly did not take him up on that offer.

The governor’s administration did not start asking troops about their top commander until the Army wrapped up its own report in 2023, and Cox announced Turley’s retirement.

Investigative records show a half dozen of those interviewed supported the allegations made in the 2-year-old letters that Turley didn’t properly address sexual misconduct, saying the discipline Turley handed down was lighter than is typically administered in the military.

Turley has previously denied all of the allegations against him.

After serving as lieutenant colonel, the last rank in which the Army said Turley served honorably, he received three promotions — colonel, brigadier general and major general. Guard records show Turley was promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel in July 2016.

The Tribune filed a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of the Army’s investigative report in August 2023, the same day Cox announced he was placing Turley on paid administrative leave, but it has not yet been fulfilled.