It's never good to be upstaged, especially when you're standing before the leader of the free world.

Lucky for Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard, he was wearing a collector's item on his belt.

Kennard joined Salt Lake Police Chief Rick Dinse and Utah Commissioner of Public Safety Robert Flowers for a brief meeting Friday with President Bush.

Dinse and Flowers showed up with gifts like a hat and a Utah Olympic Public Safety Command badge for the president. But other than some complimentary pins Kennard carries with him, the sheriff had nothing to give.

"It was my impression that the president and Congress were not allowed to accept gifts," Kennard said.

Turns out he was wrong.

View Comments

"I figured, well, heavens, if it's OK for the president to accept small gifts, then I'd give him our Olympic badge," Kennard said. "At that time the only badge I had on was my own badge." The badge says "Sheriff" and "Car One" on it. Kennard removed it from his belt and handed it to the commander-in-chief.

"He said, 'I'd be honored to have that,' " Kennard said. "I'm very honored that he would accept it. He seemed to be very touched and very moved by it."

Sheriff's Office employees had to buy the $85 badges with their own money. The special-edition badges are round, with a star in the middle and the renowned Olympic rings. One deputy was offered $500 for the collector's item, Kennard said.

E-mail: djensen@desnews.com

Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.