Sevier sheriff wins GOP primary, demotes 'unsupportive' officers

Sevier County Sheriff Phil Barney won the Republican primary election against his former chief deputy.

Now, five officers who reportedly supported his opponent have been demoted.

The Deseret Morning News received a tip about the demotions on Monday. When a reporter contacted the sheriff at his office, he demanded to know who provided the information.

"Tell 'em when they've got enough guts to tell their name I'll talk to them and you," Barney said and then hung up the telephone.

Among those reportedly demoted were the Sevier County Jail commander, the county's EMS director and three sergeants. In an interview with the Richfield Reaper, the sheriff characterized the demotions as changes that needed to be made.

"You put your highest trusted people in these positions . . . you have to have people who are totally in support of you and your program," he told the Richfield newspaper. "I had a jail commander who was in support of someone else."

Barney ran for re-election against his former chief deputy, Delbert Lloyd. On his election Web site, Lloyd claimed that after telling the sheriff he was running for office, Barney relieved him of duty.

"The sheriff explained to me that he could not have a man, who he believed to be disloyal, working as his chief deputy," Lloyd wrote.

Barney claimed that Lloyd resigned from the sheriff's office on his own.

The race between Barney and Lloyd was fairly contentions and at times, criminal. Police investigated the theft of more than $1,000 of Barney's campaign signs and banners. Beaver County sheriff's deputies eventually arrested two men, one of whom was a former Sevier County sheriff's deputy.

Both men pleaded guilty to class B misdemeanor theft and were ordered to pay fines.

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com