Channel 2 (KUTV) recently ran two "news" stories concerning the sheriff's air support program, the selection of the A-Star helicopter and the program's relationship with Don Skaggs. Through misleading innuendoes the report implied that the selection process of the A-Star helicopters was flawed. The reports also seemed to imply that a conspiracy existed to select the A-Star over the competition.
As a member of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Citizens Advisory Board, I was asked to serve on the helicopter selection committee. In that uncompensated capacity, it was my responsibility to protect the financial and safety interests of my fellow citizens. For this reason, I am irritated by Channel 2's reports.Throughout the evaluation process, the selection committee identified the five helicopter name-plates as "A, B, C, D or E." We used a sophisticated numerical weighting process that compared each model against a multiple-mission profile that we designed. The process was totally unbiased, completely fair and resulted in the selection of the best model for the county's overall needs. The truth is, the other committee members I and were not sure which model had won until the final printout of the spreadsheet.
For a semblance of a conspiracy to exist it would require complicity by the selection committee, which included the Sheriff's Department, the County Attorney's Office, the county commissioners, the county purchasing department, Salt Lake City Police Department, Murray Police Department, Salt Lake County Fire Department and myself. That is logically impossible. "Hello, Channel 2, is anybody home?"
Karen Enquist, Channel 2's reporter, told me that for her research "she chose not to interview selection committee members," which means she chose not to obtain the truth. If she had asked, I could have explained what really happened during the year of the committee's evaluation process.
I know from firsthand experience having served on the sheriff's advisory board that the helicopter program was a crucial and necessary step to bring the county's law enforcement program in line with the caliber of criminals our society now faces. Twenty-first century criminals will require 21st century tools to apprehend. Had the county not had the foresight to create the air support program, we would have paid an unnecessary price for many years to come.
Because of Channel 2's reports, irreparable damage has been done to the reputations of the sheriff's department, Salt Lake County and Mr. Skaggs. It is unfortunate that Channel 2's reporting style permitted such damage without a better attempt to obtain the truth.
Richard L. Williams
Sandy