Show I l J r rL l H- H SHERIFF GRANT K LARSEN Young Sanpete sheriff still likes his position He d doesn't claim to be the fastest gun in the W West Vest st but buthe's buthe's buthe's hes he's undoubtedly one of the youngest When Sanpete voters elected nim sheriff she in November Novem Novem- her ber U 1006 66 Gr Gran tnt K Larsen was 23 years old Some pe people said that he was the youngest elected sheriff in the United States but this has never been veri yen fied lied In the three years that have passed since he took office Sheriff Larsen has witnessed a lot of human trouble but his experiences haven't dimmed his nH 11 H t e. YU luu m IlL made him view Jew life with c cism He still likes people enjoys his work and disagrees with Gilbert and Sullivan's Sullivans comment that a ea policeman's lot is not nota a happy one When Grant was a student at Snow College a few years ago he found his classes in so sociology sociology sociology so- so and psychology esp cI- cI ally stimulating He decided then that he wanted to spend his life in law enforcement Although hes he's been sh t at in what he describes asa as asa asa a fortunately Ineffective way and has had to draw his sIdearm sidearm sidearm side- side arm on occasion he says he lie looks forward with anticipation to each new day One thing I like about my work he says is uis the vari van ety Each day is different and offers new challenges I like to cope with problems and I like to believe that I sometimes help people with theirs For r m t 1 1 Via h nIJ el 1 rm e CA ue e l IL U where a family is in danger of breaking up because of something something something some some- thing that is actually not as serious as it seems to them m at atthe atthe atthe the time Of basically I think I like my work be because because because be- be cause I believe it is both necessary necessary necessary essary and important It Is helping to hold the tho fabric of society together What are the most common problems a country sheriff faces laces My office is required to in investigate investigate in- in all felonies commit commit- ed in the county Sheriff Larsen Lansen Larsen Lar Lan sen says A common offense we are called to Investigate is car strips A juvenile needs a tire or wants a stereo for his car hasn't the money mOley and proceeds to help himself from fromon on one parked along the street We apprehend about 60 per percent percent percent cent of these offenders If its it's a first offense they're usually required to make restitution and put on probation by the court According to the sheriff narcotics narcotics nar nar- Is a minor problem In Sanpete County Its mainly caused by transients he said We picked up three young people passing through about a year ago who had narcotics In their car and were possibly pushers and Thanksgiving eve we arrested a year old boy who had both marijuana and speed in his possession Hes He's now on probation and the other case Is still pending of business houses occur about once a month Sheriff SherIf Larsen said done by professionals who break Into a l place at night haul away merchandise and dispose of it through a fence Some of It goes to Las Vegas Reno and Salt Lake City They also get cash sometimes Id I'd say we solve about 70 per cent of or th these se cases Sheriff Larsen Larsan thinks there re are some plusses as well as some minuses in the matter of law enforcement There is undoubtedly more lawlessness he lie said It Is hard to say what the reasons are for this probably the general ral restlessness to a de degree degree degree de- de gree and economic factors are involved along with our Ingrained in ingrained ingrained In- In grained desire to do our own thing as its it's called o On the plus Lansen Larsen Lan Lar sen lists an improved public attitude People have become concerned t he says more willing to become Involved L now tnt tn tny y realize reauze society itself Is endangered We get getUps tips Ups leads and other Information Information tion from people who know that the policeman cant can't do it all and feel that they have a Even in the few years Ive I've been an officer Ive I've no noticed Iced this change Most people still seem unconcerned but many are willing to cooperate We get valuable help from young joung people They're often idealistic but also aware of the dangers in society and want to help protect their friends from them Another plus the sheriff thinks is better law enforce enforce- ment Officers Officer are better train train- ed Larsen in addition to his lis college work graduated from the Police Academy at Camp Williams and has taken the ser in-ser service in Ice courses available in all phases pass s o of law enforcement Our state he said is requiring that officer have hI l. l hIl Tn Il UJ U o ki Li I timing in 11 II IVIl i nw are getting much better belter coordInation coordination co coordination co- co ordination of effort among all branches of law enforcement For example the FBI is n now w checking out for us fingerprints fingerprints fingerprints finger finger- prints taken at the scene of a crime recently committed commUted In our county In the e of a burglary descriptions of the stolen items are sent out and theres there's a concerted effort to locate them and solve the case The sheriff with the boyish smile thinks that a l youthful officer can be b more effective In dealing with today's young people Most of them are real good kids he said Actually many of them are deeply concerned about so socIety's society's society's so- so problems and probably more aware of them than some adults Those who do get out of line have to delt deIt with firmly The young people object to being pre pre- pre judged want who will wUl hear them out and desire e justice for all men These are some of or the thin things s they really care about |