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SALT LAKE CITY — A police group has sent a letter to Utah's governor asking for a “full and comprehensive” review of the state's Board of Pardons and Parole.
The letter comes as a response over the recent killing of Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Cory Wride.
The Utah Fraternal Order of Police contends that Jose Angel Garcia-Juaregui, the man accused of shooting and killing Wride, should have still been serving a prison sentence.
Garcia-Juaregui had served 4½ years in prison for attempted murder before the parole board released him. In that case, Garcia-Juaregui ran over an acquaintance and stabbed him multiple times with a screwdriver.
A warrant had been issued for Garcia-Juaregui’s arrest for parole violations days before investigators said he killed Wride and injured Deputy Greg Sherwood.
“Cleary, if people are being released who are not rehabilitated, who are not ready to come back on the streets … we’re very concerned,” said Bret Rawson, general counsel for the police group.
Rawson said he hopes the board will act and conduct its own review and it won’t take a full audit to see action.
A spokesman for the parole board had no comment, so it’s unclear exactly what will happen as far as the call to action.
Contributing: Martha Ostergar
