Relatives protest deputies' treatment

About two dozen spouses and relatives of Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies held a rally Saturday morning to protest the way sheriff administrators treat their deputies.

The rally, held outside the Salt Lake County Government Center, which houses Sheriff Aaron Kennard's office, was organized by supporters of Scott Miller, who is challenging Kennard in the upcoming election.The concern most widely vented at the rally was the deputies' inability to speak publicly about their concerns without fear of retribution.

"It is unfortunate that our loved ones - the employees we represent of the sheriff's office - cannot be present to share their own personal views on these issues," said rally organizer Teri Forbes, who is also Miller's campaign manager.

"Policy and proceedure disallows them from publicly challenging and/or criticizing the current administration," Forbes said. "However, I am not bound to that policy . . . and I am angry. I am angry that the sheriff can abusively wield his power and authority at the expense of my own husband's career."

Forbes said her husband, Ben Forbes, was one of four deputies who were punitively demoted for supporting Miller. The transfers came after Forbes and three other detectives in the homicide and robbery unit - Robert Bobrowski, Brent Adamson and Jon Sharp - participated in a St. Patrick's Day parade to launch Miller's campaign.

The detectives were taken aside by their supervisor, Sgt. Jerry Townsend, told to stop their political involvement and dismissed without an opportunity to respond, Forbes said.

The officers thought it would be in their best interest to ask to be transferred, Forbes said. But some of the wives believe that their husbands received punitive demotions as a result.

Sauni Bobrowski said that in transferring her husband from the homicide unit to narcotics supervision, he has been relegated to transporting inmates from jail to court.

"It's more than just punitive," said Pamela Adamson, Brent Adamson's wife. "They (administrators) are not serving public needs. They are serving their own needs."

The problem originates in the higher ranks of the department because administrators "have no idea what is going on," said JoAnne Barker. Many on the command level are too removed from deputies' concerns because they have not been patrol officers for a long time.

Deputies often lack support from superiors and are reprimanded or suspended for "ridiculous reasons," said Connie, who would not reveal her last name for fear that her husband might be reprimanded for her involvement.

"Not one of these people who are deputies have been drafted. They do it for the love of the job," she said. And yet, "they are treated like children . . . No wonder morale is so low."