High noon for FLDS marshals
 Utah council meets today to discuss the officers' future
 
By Ben Winslow
Deseret Morning News
 
ST. GEORGE — Police in the polygamous border towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., could soon be stripped of their badges.

The Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training Council will meet here today to discuss what to do with the town marshals under scrutiny over their loyalties to Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs. The officers are all believed to be members of the polygamist church. They are also cross-deputized to serve in Hildale and Colorado City.

"Warren told them not to cooperate," Washington County Sheriff Kirk Smith said in an interview with the Deseret Morning News last month. "But they need to do the things that are constitutionally required."

Jeffs, 51, is jailed in Hurricane's Purgatory Correctional Facility while he awaits an April trial on charges of rape as an accomplice. He is accused of performing a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin. Despite being in custody, it appears that Jeffs still issues edicts from behind bars.

A law enforcement source told the Deseret Morning News last year that the FLDS leader would hold "church" services from his cell, phoning in sermons to some of his followers.

As part of their investigation, POST officials have a letter from Hildale/Colorado City Town Marshal Fred Barlow. It found its way into the hands of the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board shortly after Jeffs' brother, Seth, was arrested in Colorado in 2005.

At the time, Jeffs was a fugitive.

"I love you and acknowledge you as my priesthood head," Marshal Barlow wrote in the letter to Jeffs, which was also obtained by the Deseret Morning News. "And I know that you have the right to rule in all aspects of my live (sic). I yearn to hear from you."

The town marshals have retained an attorney to represent them and challenge the investigation.

"We don't believe there's anything there and any action that may be taken would be unfounded," attorney Peter Stirba told the Associated Press.

Arizona POST officials will meet with their Utah counterparts today.

If the police officers lose their certification, the Washington County Sheriff's Office could be asked the fill the void of law enforcement in the border towns. The Utah Department of Public Safety acknowledges concerns about how the closed FLDS society will react.

"You have to worry about ... are they going to feel open enough to come to us for their needs?" said Utah DPS spokesman Jeff Nigbur.

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
 
deseretnews.com
Originally published Monday, March 19, 2007
 
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