OCR Text |
Show mL NOVEMBER 8, 2000 ~ WASATCH COUNTY COURIER It’s OK for the Sheriff to Voice His Opinion a o WV e had many calls over the last few weeks _ regarding ae Wasatch County Sheriff Mike Spanos’ public support opposing the Change of County Government First an article appeared i in The Wave in which: Sheriff on October 4¢ ‘Spanos blamed all the ills of the coun- ty on WATCHPAC. His efforts to vilify WATCHPAC reminded us of Hillary Clinton’s “Vast. Right Wing Conspiracy” theory which she used to justify the misbehavior ed Sheriff would similarly be inclined, and in fact should be encouraged to express his views. After all, he was There is a problem if the public loses faith in their law enforcement officers because of the Sheriff’s political believe is involved with drug viola- elected by the people based on his. statements. We don’t believe for a Now, as much as we firmly dis-. agree with Sheriff Spanos on both positions he has taken, we also firmly believe in his right to express his political positions expressed during the last election. Now, a legitimate argument can be made that law enforcement ought to be nonpolitical. We were concerned tions. Initiative. Apparently many of you feel it is improper for a law enforcement | officer to weigh in on political issues. This basically involves two pieces. the statewide Initiative B, which restricts how police agencies can seize and sell private property they | i minute that Sheriff Spanos’ political | positions would have any effect on his oath to enforce the law. However it concerns us that some people believe it might. Police Chiefs, the bead at the opinion. First, remember that in Utah — with the many calls we ‘got from - ‘the office of ‘County Sheriff is an “Vote Yes” supporters. complaining £3 Highway. Patrol-and the FBI are all elected position. So the position of. that their signs had been torn down appointed positions. It.is a reach to ‘Sheriff is political by its very nature. or stolen. When we suggested they - gay they. aren’t political. appointWe don’t have a problem with County — call the Sheriff's Office and report ; ments, but they aren’t elected positions. As far as we can tell only counCommissioners, Legislators or other © the’ crime the usual response was, elected officials promoting their opin- _ “Spanos won’t do anything about it, - ty sheriffs are elected law enforce- _ions. We should expect that an elect- _ didn’t you read The Wave article?” of her hus- band. Right, kill the messenger. Besides, a “Vote No” opinion piece in The Wave is just Pace to the choir. The second piece was sent last week in a bulk mailing from acompa- ment positions. Of course, even _appointed law enforcement. officials can express their -opinion unless their contracts forbid it. J. Edgar > Hoover*was never: timid in express-ing his political: opinions. If you believe that the office of County _ ny called Salt Lake Mailing. The “Vote Sheriff should be an appointed, | rather:than elected position, contact No” contingent sent a similar mailing at the same time using the same company. In this piece Sheriff Spanos reit- - Utah State Senator Beverly Evans or State Representative Gordon Snow erated his opposition to the Change of -and ask them about changing the law. Government He. also But until the law is changed. Sheriff Spanos has every right in the world to express his opinion Gust like we used this mailer to campaign against have the right to disagree with him.) Initiative, however, thankfully this time he dropped his — rhetoric. me i iF Lid e ~.anti: WATCHPAC ST, The Tragic Loss of a an Innocent Child Gage Waymont’ S Death: An Unnessessary Lesson “SE, SIT OEE T KEARNS you are a parent or not. _A 2-year old child is left truck. His father leaves to game on a private hunting comes back after 45 minutes child missing. Volunteer alone in a scout for area and to find his searchers | combed the countryside near Coalville until everyone’s worst fears came true. and wore out the bottom of his pajama * bottoms until he could go np farther. Cold and exhaustion stopped him in | the end. | 2 Ved angry. Ls: Waymont was found curled in a fetal position under several inches of snow » either late last Monday or early Paul Waymont cared for his son’ the final and grieves, like many people I’ve talked to about this, I just can’t get over his irresponsibility. Erik Luna, a pro-. “news came, we were sicker and were in tears. We didn’t think about how fessor of crimi-— nal law and crim- | Tuesday. He was found two miles away - from where his father, Paul Waymont had left him unattended and strapped in his carseat. Like many in the area, my ali and I followed the story from the begin- ning. We felt sick. When Gage’s mother was stripped of cus- — - inal procedure at the University of -tody of all six of her children from Utah speaks the four marriages and the reason behind it. We: didn’t think of how Gage’s father, Paul Waymont, who was awarded custody of little Gage must have felt. What we focused on was a child who did what any smart, young child would SF alone. Gage probably got out do when of his left seat, opened the truck door which he had pate leave a dog unattended Why Erik Luna, a pro-- just can’t help it. © - While [’m sure We received the news that little Gage eI he | probably seen Fait Waymant ds: sev- &) with this for the rest & ae life. But I eral times (It only takes a couple of cannot seem to get over. the stupidity and selfishness of his action. We are~ te os sent chills divdaeth all | looks) and went to find his Daddy. This tough little boy traveled 2 miles * “constantly reminded that we shouldn’t of us. I don’t think it matters if MICHAEL fessor of criminal law — and criminal procedure at the University — of Utah speaks the reality of this tragedy, “This is a tragic case of incredibly poor judgment | on the part of the father, but it’s unlikely Picket Bic CMa? 28 404s in the car. would any- -. one think twice ~ about a child. voce The story in the Salt Tribune Lake this” weekend spent.a lot of, copy on how bad Gage’s family feels, how his father feels Wekubat! Tm angry at fee two hunters who say they saw Gage in the ‘truck and did nothing. ’m angry at the circumstances.I find I have no relief except to hold, kiss my own 14 month old boy and vow never, never to ever leave him alone under any condition. That is the responsibility of being a parent. There ave feelings for James Wilkes, the velunteer who found Gage’s body. I can’t imagine what went through his mind when he and his dog found Gage curled up in the snow. Wilkes carried Gage’s body for two hours before becoming lost and and some roman-. ' exhausted himself. He*put the boy’s body down gently in a spot he would tic quotes from Gage’s’ mother. Reading it just made me angri- - Forty-five minutes. The cold. Each night Gage was missing, the temperadropped | below freezing. - probably ae nae: reality of this tragedy, “This is had only one a tragic case of focus before the incredibly poor hypothermia _ Judgment on the part of the father, ai made him confused. Find Daddy. its unlikely to be a crime.” Paul ~ Despair. I want to feel for Paul Waymont has been cleared of any foul | - Waymont, but I’m sorry, I feel nothplay and his real punishment is living ing but anger. I’m angry at Mr. remember and went for help. The Tribune article showed a photo of Mr. Wilkes in tears, hugging a family member at the funeral of a little boy he -. didn’t know. If anything positive can come of this, it should remind all of us who have children or care for them, how ~ important it is to have common sense when dealing with them and when to set our own personal agendas aside. For now, all we can do is say a pray for Gage and hope this never Ries age Mr Kearns is a father ae the president of Silver King Media Group, which owns the Wasatch County Courier, |