PROVO — The Provo Police Officers Association has endorsed one of the challengers to the longtime Utah County attorney.
Despite past election support for GOP county attorney Kay Bryson — who took office in 1991 — the association decided throw its support behind Jeff Buhman, one of Bryson's deputy attorneys.
In a statement released Friday, the association said Buhman is the most likely candidate to provide innovative leadership in the position.
Curtis Larson, from American Fork, who challenged Bryson four years ago, is the other candidate for Utah County attorney. All are Republicans.
"We feel that it is time for a change in the administration," according to the statement written by Hiatt Bean, association president.
The association also said it supports Buhman because of his promises to rebuild relationships with police officers and deputies.
"We are alarmed at the extremely high rate of lenient plea agreements reached between the current administration and offenders of serious crimes," says the statement.
"The county attorney's office needs to work hand-in-hand with the police departments to prosecute all felony crimes that occur in Utah County."
Buhman said he was "honored by the endorsement" and gratified by the trust expressed by the police association.
Buhman said he believes there are changes that need to be made in the county attorney's office.
His six-point platform includes restoring the office's reputation, prosecuting aggressively, providing accountability as a public official, strengthening relation- ships with the police, leading and managing the office and prioritizing resources to focus on addressing a growing drug problem.
Bryson did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Friday.
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