MCSO ready for potential problems at Jessop funeral
 
By Chris DeVore
Kingman Daily Miner
 
KINGMAN – Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan said he would send extra deputies to Colorado City after a former bishop of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints died last week.

Sheahan said he was in Colorado City late last week when the news of 94-year-old Fred Jessop’s death broke and was able to see events unfold in real time.

"Jessop was known as ‘Uncle Fred’ to many who adored him in the FLDS, which occupies the twin towns of Hildale and Colorado City astride the Utah-Arizona border," an Associated Press report stated. The AP also reported Jessop was exiled 15 months ago because he threatened the authority of Warren Jeffs, the presiding bishop of the church.

Sheahan said he and Sheriff Kirk Smith of Washington County, Utah, which sits just across the state line from Mohave County, worked on contingency plans to prepare for potential problems that could arise during funeral related events this weekend.

Sheahan said Friday his understanding was that visitation would be on Saturday and the funeral would be today.

He said the Sheriff’s Office is prepared to send between four and 12 deputies to Colorado City just in case something happens, and will send more if necessary.

"We don’t really anticipate any problems," Sheahan said. "But you never know because the situation could become volatile at any time."

In a related story, Sheahan said the state of Utah is preparing to possibly remove peace officer certification from Colorado City’s Chief Marshall Sam Roundy for having more than one wife. Roundy’s jurisdiction also includes Hildale, Sheahan added.

It’s not clear when Utah is going to act, Sheahan said. But if the move is made by Utah to decertify Roundy, who is a certified peace officer in Arizona and Utah, it’s possible Arizona will take similar action.
 
KingmanDailyMiner.com
Originally published March 20, 2005
 
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