On Monday, the United State Department of Justice won a suit against the communities of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah for violating the constitutional rights of some of its citizens is significant. Arizona State Rep. Michelle Rep. Ugenti-Rita said the decision “came later than was necessary.”
Ugenti-Rita, in 2012, sponsored legislation which would have created a mechanism for the state of Arizona to decertify the Marshall’s Office in Colorado City.
Ugenti-Rita said in a statement released after the decision calling for more action to be taken. “For three years, I sponsored and advocated for legislation to provide law enforcement with this additional tool to address the situation there. Ironically, some of those who opposed my legislation were representatives of the law enforcement community. As part of my efforts, I even visited Colorado City, accompanied by members of the Mohave County Sheriff’s office, to see the community first hand. I had been encouraged and invited by both sides of this issue to go there and I am grateful I had the opportunity to do so,” stated Ugenti-Rita.
“While this verdict is an important first step, there is much more to be done. Many legislators and stakeholders have worked tirelessly to protect the rights of these citizens and they should be commended for their efforts. Now is the time for all parties, including the legislature, law enforcement and local governments, to come together and develop a solution to resolve the issues in these communities and ensure these types of discriminatory and abusive acts never occur again.”
Ugenti-Rita’s bill was aimed at cops like the Colorado City cops under the control of the imprisoned cult leader, Warren Jeffs. The law would have 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.
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.