Utah Appears Close to Yanking the Badges of Polygamous Police Officers
 
KUTV Channel 2
 
Utah appears closer than ever to yanking the badges of polygamous police officers. A state panel moved to investigate cops in the polygamy enclave of Hildale.

Brian Mullahy has more.

Hildale Police Chief Sam Roundy is one officer Utah's attorney general believes is a practicing polygamist along with at least one other Hildale officer.

If they refuse to leave polygamy Mark Shurtleff says they should lose their badges.

"Then revocation is the only option. They ought to be revoked. They ought not to ever be police officers again," said Shurtleff.

The POST council made up largely of police administrators has the power to pull polygamists off the Hildale force.

"If they're polygamists, should they be police officers?" Mullahy asked.

"In my opinion, if they're violating the laws of the state of Utah at this time, then they're in violation of the code of ethics, and no they shouldn't be police officers," said Val Shupe, South Ogden Police Chief.

The drive to decertify polygamist cops in Hildale may have been triggered in part by this man, former Hildale officer Rodney Holm.

He was convicted of bigamy and unlawful sex with a minor in marrying one of his wives when she was just sixteen.

Chief Roundy insists the girl's parents consented to the marriage and has criticized Attorney General Shurtleff.

"I think he's listening to the hype too. I don't have any respect for that guy, personally," said Chief Roundy.
 
KUTV.com
Originally aired September 22, 2004
 
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