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MANILA, Daggett County — A new Daggett County sheriff was sworn into office Friday morning and said he looks forward to rebuilding trust in the department.
Eric L. Bailey, of Ogden, was nominated by the Daggett County Republican Committee to serve the remainder of former Sheriff Jerry Jorgensen’s term. Jorgensen resigned April 23 amid controversy over allegations of misconduct at the county jail.
County commissioners approved Bailey’s nomination during a meeting Friday morning, then he was immediately sworn into office, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Bailey has served in law enforcement for more than 25 years in various positions and places. He worked for the Utah Department of Corrections from 1991 to 1999, where he was promoted to sergeant and earned a medal of merit and three certificates of commendation, the release said.
He then joined the Syracuse Police Department, where he worked until 2011 as a police officer, a K-9 officer and a detective. He continued to work for the next four years in various positions for the Utah Transit Authority Police Department. Recently, he served as a lieutenant with Grantsville Police Department.
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Sheriff, 4 staff charged after inmates abused with stun guns
Utah's attorney general filed charges Friday against a former sheriff and four deputies in a rural county after prosecutors say inmates were stunned with a Taser in exchange for soda or as hazing when assigned to a work crew.On May 5, Jorgensen and four of his former deputies were charged in 8th District Court by the Utah Attorney General's Office as part of a scandal that resulted in closing the jail.
Jail employees, including the former jail commander, are accused of assaulting inmates by illegally using their Tasers on them, according to charging documents, and in one case forcing inmates to be test dummies for uncertified police K-9s, which resulted in them being bitten.
After taking office Friday, Bailey said, "I look forward to rebuilding the trust of the community, law enforcement, and the state of Utah."
