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The candidates hoping to replace departing Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder say they want to improve relationships with police chiefs across the valley, which have become visibly strained in recent months.
Four people have stepped forward as contenders to replace Winder — who is leaving his position overseeing the Salt Lake County jail and the Unified Police Department, one of the biggest forces in Utah — to become Moab's police chief.
The interim sheriff, who will serve through the end of Winder's term next year, will be picked this summer by Winder's Democratic Party.
The four hopefuls are UPD Sgt. Levi Hughes, UPD Deputy Chief Rosie Rivera, UPD Detective Ken Hansen and Utah Transit Authority Police Chief Fred Ross.
All the potential successors vow to focus on mending the tense ties between the office and chiefs at municipalities throughout the county, notably Salt Lake City. They also back Winder's call to expand jail space.
"If, as sheriff, I cannot sit at the table with my brothers and sisters in law enforcement and my friends in the community at any juncture with any problem, then I need to re-evaluate my approach in this office," Hughes said. "For the past several years, we have not been able to do that."
Said Rivera: "I do see some issues I would immediately have to address such as communication with some of the other agencies that are involved in the homeless community issue."
The candidates said the breakdowns may be affecting efforts to improve homelessness services and fight crime, both have become front-burner issues for the state, county and Salt Lake City.
"There's obviously a standstill between Salt Lake City and the county, particularly surrounding the homeless issue," said Ross, who left the Salt Lake City Police Department in 2015 to lead UTA's force.
Hansen pointed to helping Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown and his officers, adding that his friendship with Brown would help.
"The relationships are there; they'll get better," Hansen said. "Because of my existing relationship, I anticipate an extremely smooth transition and going to them and saying, 'What can I do to help you?' "
Winder's relationship with Brown became so antagonistic — over homelessness and the jail, for instance — that the two weren't on speaking terms for a time.
The candidates are waiting for Winder to finalize an employment contract with Moab before they campaign in earnest. They will seek approval from the county Democratic Party's Central Committee.
The party has a month to pick Winder's replacement once his job is finalized. Moab City Manager David Everitt said Tuesday he's still negotiating with Winder, and an ideal start date is around mid-July.
The four sheriff candidates also discussed space at the Salt Lake County jail, which has contributed to the troubled interactions with other police forces.
Citing long-term crowding, Winder early last year restricted the crimes for which offenders could be booked. The policy concentrated on taking in violent and high-level offenders. Some chiefs said their officers then were unable to arrest suspects who should be off the street.
That booking restriction has been eased in recent weeks.
"Sheriff Winder has been absolutely right in how he had to deal with this overcrowding and cap issues," Hughes said.
Winder called for a tax increase in 2018 to pay for expanding the Adult Detention Center in coming years. He also pushed for more space at the Oxbow jail next year.
Hansen, who oversees the regional gang unit, said the county needs more jail beds while it upgrades services to help people suffering from mental illness and drug addiction.
"We do need some more jail space," he said, "just to help for a period of time with this issue."
Ross agrees the county needs to improve treatment options, but sees a real need for jail beds. "We have to have the space for those that belong there."
Rivera advocated for a combination of expanded jail space and better treatment.
"The community has grown, our population is larger, more people are being booked into jail," she said. "There are some legitimate reasons that the jail needs to grow as well."
More candidates could step forward to replace Winder. The four so far said they would run again next year if picked as interim sheriff.
Twitter: @TaylorWAnderson