Corrupt Colorado City cops subject of H2648

A bill aimed at cops like the Colorado City cops under the control of the imprisoned cult leader, Warren Jeffs, are the subject of H2648 (police functions; revocation; officer misconduct). The bill aimed at Colorado City’s police department is sponsored by Michelle Ugenti (R-District 8).

The law would allow local police agencies to be decertified if more than half of its individual police officers had their licenses taken away in the previous 8 years. Decertification of the law enforcement agency would not occur unless the Attorney General determined that the problem was systemic, and the County Board of Supervisors would have to vote to have the Sheriff takeover local law enforcement duties.

For years the Colorado City law enforcement policed on the basis of FLDS law according the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Last summer, the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against the Town of Colorado City, the City of Hildale, and two utility agencies for discrimination against residents of the communities who are non- Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members. Colorado City and Hildale are populated primarily by members of the FLDS who are followers of the self-proclaimed prophet Warren Jeffs.

The minority of residents of Colorado City and Hildale who are non-Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members have been discriminated against on the basis of religion.

The Cities’ public officials, the Colorado City/Hildale Marshal’s Office, and utility entities have denied non-FLDS individuals housing, police protection, and access to public space and services.

Since 2003, Arizona has decertified six officers employed by the Marshal’s Office, and a seventh officer resigned after having been decertified by Utah officials. Three were decertified for failure to comply with state law-enforcement efforts, including refusing to testify at a grand jury proceeding.

The police unions prevented both the states of Utah and Arizona from passing bills that would have had the effect of disbanding the Marshal’s Office last year.

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