This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Aug. 12 Salt Lake Tribune story about the GOP lemmings accusing Sim Gill of being a "cop hater" is a great object lesson in political propaganda. If you have a losing defense — think John Swallow, Mark Shurtleff, Gary Herbert and the list goes on — then attack the investigator.
Sim Gill, Salt Lake County district attorney, and Troy Rawlings, Davis County district attorney, have been doing a professional, no-holds-barred investigation of certain GOP leaders that should end with indictments. So what happens when Mr. Gill concludes a nine-month investigation? The GOP propaganda machine attacks him. I am sure we will see more of this. My hope is the citizens will see through this diversion from the main story.
Utah has the good fortune of having some of the best law enforcement professionals in the business: Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank and Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. Recent reports on also demonstrate we have some bad apples; read: UHP troopers Lisa Steed and Bryan Gardner.
Great law enforcement officials like Burbank, Winder, Gill and Rawlings keep their eyes on the bad guys and don't get distracted by the political propagandist.
Pat Shea
Salt Lake City