"This administration has put law enforcement on the back burner," Corroon said Wednesday morning, referring to incumbent Republican Nancy Workman.

He says the sheriff's department has lost more than 100 line deputies and its two helicopters - two events that he claimed put officers' lives and everyone's safety in jeopardy.

Workman's campaign dismissed the accusations, saying that residents should feel more secure, especially since the mayor increased the number of officers in the unincorporated areas.

The mayor's camp also noted it was the former County Commission, not the mayor, that cut out the air-support division.

That shifting of officers came after Draper dropped its contract with the county and started its own force. Taylorsville, which also uses sheriff's protection, plans to start its own police department in April.

Citing those contract losses and the helicopters, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Employee Association and the Utah chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Corroon for mayor.

"The truth is, Salt Lake County citizens and law-enforcement officials are not as safe as they were four years ago," said sheriff's Lt. Robby Russo, surrounded by several law-enforcement officials holding Corroon signs.

Corroon says he would form a public-private partnership to return a helicopter to service in the sheriff's office, but he declined to say what companies would be involved in such a plan, and he didn't know how much the proposal would cost. He said taxes would not be raised to bolster law enforcement or to get a helicopter, but that the money would come from looking at the overall county budget.

Corroon - now the front-runner in the race - also said he would support a police district similar to that of the Fire Protection District. The Democrat said he would work to decrease overhead costs to cities contracting for sheriff's service, and also work to upgrade the system at the Valley Emergency Communications Center, which handles most of the area's 911 calls.

Workman's campaign manager Chris Bleak pointed out that Corroon did not offer any statistics to back up the claim about residents feeling more vulnerable.

"I don't have a sense that anyone is feeling less secure, other than because of 9-11," Bleak said, noting that everyone probably worries about their safety more since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Bleak also said that the two law-enforcement groups that endorsed Corroon never contacted Workman's camp to talk about issues. The sheriff's association backed Workman's 2000 Democratic opponent, Karen Crompton, as well, but the Fraternal Order of Police made no endorsement.

And Bleak says Workman has shown her support for law enforcement through pay raises and the budget. "They are a huge priority for the mayor," he said.

Workman has been endorsed by Local 1696 of the International Association of Firefighters, which had backed Crompton in 2000.

"As far as firefighters, she's been there for us and treated us well," said group President Reo Castleton.

Unaffiliated candidate Merrill Cook said he was not surprised by the sheriff's association endorsing Corroon because the group usually supports Democrats.

"Our strategy is to work closely with the deputies who actually place their lives on the line for us," Cook said. "To do that we need to support countywide cost-cutting and consolidation in all other departments. That way we will have the funds required to support the deputy's salary and equipment needs."

He added that the helicopter program "is important," but there needs to be a cost analysis attached to any such proposal.

tburr@sltrib.com