Polygamist cops' loyalty to Warren Jeffs may cost them their badges

By Brent Hunsaker ABC 4

Eventually, the small police agency shared by the polygamist communities of Hildale and Colorado City may have to be closed down. Why? Because it appears that the Marshal and his Deputies may be more loyal to Warren Jeffs than they are to the law or the constitution. The town Marshal is under multiple federal and state investigations. At least the federal investigation is criminal -- looking into whether the Deputy Marshals may have violated the civil rights of the residents of the community. But the State investigations deal directly with certification. The Peace Office Training and Standards - POST - boards of both Arizona and Utah are looking at whether the badges for all or some of the cops in Hildale and Colorado City should be taken away. Arizona is looking specifically at two people: Fred Barlow, the Marshal or head of the force, and Deputy Marshal Preston Barlow. Fred Barlow is accused of seeking direction from a man who at the time was a federal fugitive. In a letter written in October of 2005, Fred Barlow told polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs that he is "the one man that was and is called of God to stand at the head of his priesthood and the Kingdom of God on earth." He went on to say, "I have felt a unity between the peace officers. They have all stated to me their desire to follow the directives that are placed before us." He later clarifies from whom those directives come. "I do not know exactly what we have ahead of us but I do know that I and all of the other officers have expressed our desire to stand with you..." It is a remarkable statement from a man sworn to uphold the law to another man who is accused of breaking that law. Both Fred and Preston Barlow are also accused of refusing to answer the questions of investigators from the Arizona Attorney General's office. An administrative hearing on the Arizona cases will be held in February. Bob Forry of Arizona POST says there is evidence of a "pattern of conduct" with these two men. The Utah POST believes there may be evidence of a "pattern of conduct" will all of 5 of the men in the Marshal's office. Utah has just begun a investigation that could lead to all of their badges being revoked. brent@abc4.com

ABC4.com Originally published December 9, 2006

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