Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, has recently proposed legislation that would make police officer’s disciplinary records sealed from public access. This would mean records of officer misbehavior including sexual misconduct and records of use of deadly force. City Weekly asked Pam Pedersen of Sugar House’s Central Book Exchange if she thought this was sound public policy:
I don’t know what that guy’s problem is; everything he does is so far off the track. He’s nuts. I’m into the education system, and I think anyone who gets paid with public money has a responsibility to the public to conduct themselves in a certain way. No [public servant] should have sealed records—not police officers, not teachers not legislators. If taxpayer money is paying you, then you should be subject to public scrutiny.
