Some Salt Lake police officers say Chief Ruben Ortega is mistaken when he says the whole department backs gun control.
The head of the detective division and the police union president, among others, say Ortega assumes too much when he indicates the department opposes legislation that would forbid cities and counties from passing gun-control laws that are tougher than the state's."For him to make a blanket statement that Salt Lake City police officers support gun control is not accurate," said Officer Dave Greer, president of the Salt Lake Police Association. "If he took a survey of the officers, he would find there are varied opinions."
Greer said the union has not taken a stand on the issue.
Ortega was out of town Friday. Department spokesman Lt. Marty Vuyk said no survey had been done, in part because of time constraints and because it wasn't considered necessary.
But Lt. Dennis Tueller, who heads the detective division, said he was angered when Attorney General Jan Graham said she had the support of police officers who support gun control.
"Most of the officers I know don't support gun laws," he said.
A new Salt Lake ordinance imposes a five-day waiting period on gun purchases by people between 18 and 25 years old. It also restricts youths under 16 from possessing a gun unless they have their parents' permission.
Vuyk said that since the law was enacted, police have prevented seven convicted felons from buying guns.
A Salt Lake detective circulated a petition among officers opposing gun control laws. But he did not present it to police administration - possibly because he was afraid of repercussions, said Sgt. Chris Larsen.
"Everyone was a little gun-shy and was afraid of what the chief was going to do," Larsen said. "It's our own fault. We screwed up."
Vuyk said only the chief can represent the department to the Legislature. In a Jan. 21 memo, Ortega said no officer may appear at the Legislature as a representative of the department.
If officers speak to lawmakers as private citizens, according to the memo, they must not identify them-selves as Salt Lake employees unless asked.
While officers agree they should not appear as representatives, they believe the memo discourages police from speaking out.
"A lot of officers looked at it (the memo) as an imposition of their rights to represent themselves at the state Legislature," Greer said.