SHERIFF SUPPORTS ARRESTS NEAR DRUG CLINIC

PROVO - Utah County Sheriff Jim Tracy is supporting the actions of a
deputy accused of targeting substance-abuse patients for arrest.

Tracy says he has spoken with the deputy criticized late last month
for allegedly waiting outside the Utah County Substance Abuse clinic
to nab patients with outstanding warrants. He said his officer is not
acting out of line.

"I told him he's not to sit there . . . and do what we call direct
enforcement," Tracy said. "But if we see something in and around that
area, we're not going to turn a blind eye - that's what they pay us for."

The complaint was brought to county commissioners by Cristie
Peterson, a relative of a substance-abuse patient who worried the
officer was preventing patients from getting the help they need.

Peterson said things have gotten better at the clinic since she came
forward two weeks ago.

"I haven't seen [the deputy] there since," she said. "I'm hoping that lasts."

Tracy said that deputy works out of one of the most aggressive
traffic units that coincidentally has offices near the clinic. He
said the deputy and other officers often, in passing, recognize
individuals around the clinic who have pending warrants.

"We want them to get treatment, but from the law-enforcement
standpoint, treatment doesn't trump the responsibility to obey the
law," Tracy said.

According to Tracy's numbers, there are more than 10,000 outstanding
arrest warrants in the county.

Utah County Division of Substance Abuse Director Richard Nance was
caught by surprise by the initial complaint.

He said he has since communicated closely with Tracy and the County
Commission, and believes the situation is improving.

"The sheriff's got to do his job. If people have outstanding
warrants, then they definitely need to clean up their acts," Nance
said. "But [his deputies] don't have to single out clients getting treatment."

For Peterson, she said making the complaint was never about pointing
fingers. She just wanted to help out those who are trying to turn
their lives around.

"This is a first hope I've had for my [relative] in almost 10 years,"
she said. "I don't want it to be ruined for [her] and others. They
really do need a chance to get better, and the only place they can do
that at the clinic."