Reader comments
Disciplinary files might be sealed

Law enforcement departments are already act above the law and now this effort to hide the actions of law enforcement is an atrocity to the public. A self regulating depratment is not a good idea. No government agency has the right to conceal the actions of its employees, especially in disciplinary actions. Law enforcmeent employees should be put through the same processes and laws that the citizens are put through. Allowing the actions of police department officers to be hidden will only bring more distrust in the law enforcement divisions with the public. Such a law is an afront to the public, the justice system, and accountabilty by law enforcement. If anything, all proceedings involving a police officer or department should be made more public and open. The SS died with Hitler and now they want to bring it back and law enforcement can run amock with all the atrocities they wish to do, in the name of the law of course. Law enforcement officers should be very scrutinized by public and private means.

When are the people of West Jordan and South Jordan going to wake up and get rid of this schmuck? This is not the freedom that millions of us have sacrificed for.

I agree with Bob. Too many law enforcement officers believe and act like they above all laws. Allowing them conceal their actions will only make the public distrust the officers even more!!!!

Butters still believes that these are the latter days and civil rights don't count in the elevated life that he resides in.

Of course it was Buttars who sponsored this bill. Anything that reeks of dishonesty and cover-up usually have his name stamped all over them.

Every time that I think of my tax dollars being used to pay this man for his part-time 'service' my stomach sinks. His occupation of a legislative seat is nothing but a disservice to the people of this state - including all of us who share his religious affiliation.

What a terrible slap in the face to the families of all the Utah Soldiers who valiantly lost their lives to preserve our freedoms. We are the people of these United States and it is our right to know if a police officer acts contrary to the oaths they make and if the legislature is being responsible stewards of our tax dollars.

If Chris Buttars is the best South & West Jordan can find to represent them, Utah is in worse shape than I thought. PLEASE VOTE HIM OUT!!!

While we are at it lets open all criminal histories and driving records for all citizens in Utah. Oh wait that would be violating their civil rights as citizens. Hmmmn.... I guess police officers are citizens too so.... You guessed it... The only way to obtain specific information on conduct violations by officers is through court order and very limited in scope. Just like any other citizen is afforded... Police officers have rights too and should be afforeded the same courtesy...

Somewhere there has to be a balance between the civil rights of the private individual who happens to be a peace officer, and the right of the public to know the activities, especially improper ones, of public servants. By the very nature of being a "Public Servant", it becomes necessary for their behavior to be above board, to be scrutinized, not for some attorney to make a buck, but so that the public will know they can trust the people who are supposed to be protecting them. There is already a lot of "good-old-boy" behavior and attitude among law enforcement and various officers of the courts and jails. We have seen that in action in our little community here in Utah, and in other states we have lived in as well. Law enforcement officers are not and should not be above the law. There are many good, ethical officers, and unfortunately there are also many who are not. Knowing that the disciplinary actions documented in their personnel files could become public knowledge might encourage these officers to thing twice before doing something questionable.