- County Commission hears Sheriff’s policy on new Search and Rescue
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!”
So states an old adage. But what if the bath water is exceptionally muddy? Does that make an exception?
Alden Orme, Juab County Sheriff, said he disbanded the sheriff’s posse and formed a new one, to be known as the Juab County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, because the organization was flawed and, because of non-support on the behalf of some, was not serving the community as it should.
He has reiterated on several occasions that he would like members of the former group to reapply for positions in the new search and rescue. However, all must make application, be interviewed and voted on by members of the new team. A blanket acceptance of the former team will not be extended.
“You have a legal right to do what you have done but I am not sure you have done it in the right way,” said LuWayne Walker, county commissioner.
He told Orme at county commission meeting that he had “downed a lot of good citizens” who had given many years of service to the community.
In addition, Walker said that some of the claims of Orme were disputable. One of those being that only one or two members of the search and rescue team had shown up when called out.
The search and rescue team had records, he said.
Orme charged that Walker, as a member of the former search and rescue team, should not be part of a decision about property disbursement because he stood to gain and, therefore, should exclude himself from any decision.
“You have a conflict of interest,” said Orme.
That was not so, said Walker. When he became a commissioner, and before the group was disbanded, he had determined not to be a functioning member of the group and had taken official leave of absence. He therefore, did not stand to benefit from the sale of equipment.
“I was also a deputy (of the county sheriff’s office) for many years,” said Walker.
New members of the sheriff’s search and rescue: Ondie Williams, Wayne Johnson, Clint Robertson and Brad Cowan and former members: Leon Winter, Ken Ingram, Brett Park, Chad Phillipson, Jeff Carter and Von Bowles along with Sheriff Orme all met with the Juab County Commission to discuss the by-laws of the new and former groups and the distribution of property belonging to the former posse.
Winter said that he had been a member of the search and rescue for 32 years through the tenure of four sheriffs and had, in fact, by vote supported Orme for the past four years.
“It is a slap in the face to be required to submit an application,” he said.
He had determined not to do so for that reason. At first, he said, he had seriously considered doing so and had urged his son to apply. He had agreed to stay with the group and had waited to see what would happen. Now however, after reconsidering, he did not see why the former members should be required to apply like newcomers.
“We are moving on,” said Orme.
He said, following the past year’s reelection as sheriff, he had felt compelled to accommodate the request of some to “fix” the problems with the posse. He had chosen to do that by disbanding the former organization and forming a new one in order to keep some of the active members. That had been done in January.
Now the sheriff wanted to claim what was county property, namely, he said, the old county jail which was serving as a meeting place and storage facility for the former posse.
“We will not make that determination today,” said Walker.
Val Jones, commission chairman, said the commission had given the former posse the right to keep possession of the old jail until the property angle was figured out. That had not been done and may take some time to accomplish.
He said he would like to see if the “old” group would be accepted as members of the new search and rescue team if, as the sheriff suggested, they just applied.
“I would like you all to go and sign up,” he told the former members present. “I would like to see if you all get the votes to get in.”
That would tell the story of whether or not the sheriff was sincere in his offer or whether politics were at the center and were still playing a part in the decisions being made.
“Feelings have been hurt,” said Jones.
However, he said, the conflict was getting old and the commission would like to see an end to it. Frankly, he said, the years of devoted service the men had given to the community, 30 years or so in some cases, could not be replaced. He asked them to set their pride aside and go and apply.
There were 29 members of the former sheriff’s posse. Meanwhile more than 30 new applicants have become members of the new search and rescue team. The bylaws of the new group set membership at 50.
“We could expand the number,” said Orme.
That was something that could be accomplished because the number could be changed to 60 or 70.
By-laws for the new group are still being written and have not been formally adopted. That change in number is still possible, he said.
Chad Winn, commissioner, said he thought that, if the majority of the old group were to sign up and be accepted, that might make it so that the wrangle over assets—who owned what—could cease.
Winn said he had been a teacher until he retired. After more than 30 years in a classroom, he
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