Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Alex Cabrero reporting Police officers throughout the state get disciplined from time to time, but one case in Ogden is dividing the force.
Many say it's another example of how city politics is affecting morale within the department.
A rental van is getting a lot of attention in Ogden, mainly because of a sign that says "Welcome to Ogden city, home of Godfrey's ticket quota."
Juston Dickson,Ogden Police Dept. : "It's not fair to the citizens."
Juston Dickson, an Ogden police officer, says the sign is meant to criticize Mayor Matthew Godfrey's policy that officers can earn better pay by writing more tickets.
Juston Dickson,Ogden Police Dept. : "It takes away the officers discretion, because if he doesn't write a citation, then he's gonna get a lower evaluation."
Off-duty police officers have been driving the van throughout town. But when Officer Matt Jones' wife was driving it recently, Mayor Godfrey was watching.
Jones was placed on administrative leave two hours later.
Juston Dickson,Ogden Police Dept. : "When we're off duty, we have the freedom of speech, our wives do also, and I feel officers are being punished for speaking out."
Rep. Neil Hansen, (D) Ogden: "I think through this whole fiasco, the law may have been skirted in some way, shape, or form."
State representative Neil Hansen, whose district covers Ogden, helped write a law a few years ago saying when off-duty public citizens - including police officers - have the right to freedom of speech. He's calling for an outside investigation.
But Ogden's police chief says Jones suspension has nothing to do with Mayor Godfrey calling him after seeing Jones' wife in the van.
Greiner wouldn't go into details, but says it involves citizen complaints, of which Jones has been in trouble for before. He says he was going to suspend him for those complaints. The timing, right after the van incident, is just a coincidence.
Jeff Pickrell, Ogden Police Dept.: "To all of us, the timing seems off."
Many of Jones' fellow officers don't believe it's just a coincidence, saying he's just being made an example of because a lot of officers have been driving that van.
Jeff Pickrell, Ogden Police Dept.: "Matt happened to be the one that the mayor happened to catch up to on his little stake out. It could've been anyone, and it's not right to leave Matt hanging."
We left messages on Mayor Godfrey's cell phone and office number. A secretary said he is on vacation.
Officer Jones didn't want to speak to us on camera, but says he wasn't even told what his suspension is for. Chief Greiner says Jones will know soon.
