Rocky Wants Answers By May 19th

Rocky Wants Answers By May 19th


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Jed Boal reporting There are indications the scandal that rocked the paper, is about to get bigger. The lawyer hired by the Smart family to investigate leaks to the news media, will release more results of his investigation tomorrow.

Meantime, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson wants answers from his police chief.

In a pointed 18-page memo to the police chief, Mayor Anderson says he wants to know where the leaks came from by May 19th. He also wants to know exactly what police did to pursue eventual suspects Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee.

Rocky Anderson/Mayor Salt Lake City: "IT'S JUST BEEN THE MOST HORRID KIND OF GOSSIP"

Mayor Rocky Anderson says he started hearing it right form the beginning of the investigation. He says that kind of information ended up in the hands of Tribune reporters Michael Vigh and Kevin Cantera and eventually the National Enquirer. Reports of a "gay sex scandal"...that earned the Smarts a retraction and settlement from the tabloid.

Rocky Anderson/Mayor Salt Lake City: "I WANT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF ANYTHING THAT ANYONE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID."

KSL-TV obtained a memo which the Mayor sent Police Chief Rick Dinse yesterday. He says he has yet to receive any information on leaks, though he first requested it back in July. He writes Ed Smart was outraged at the thought of Elizabeth being interviewed by police...and feared that information might be leaked."

Anderson wants answers quickly.

Rocky Anderson/Mayor Salt Lake City: "FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED...HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE."

Officers could be fired or disciplined...

Police detectives were named in the memo...but blacked out in our copy.

The Mayor also wants to know how aggressively investigators pursued Emmanuel...or Mitchell...

The attorney that negotiated the settlement between the Smart family and the Enquirer will reveal new details of his investigation tomorrow. That could include police or other sources who reportedly leaked the information to Cantera and Vigh.

Anderson is not certain anyone leaked. But, if they did, they will be held accountable.

Rocky Anderson/Mayor Salt Lake City: "A FEW OFFICERS CAN REALLY SPOIL THE CREDIBILITY OF A DEPARTMENT JUST LIKE A COUPLE OF REPORTERS SPOILED THE CREDIBILITY OF OUR MAJOR DAILY NEWSPAPER."

Mayor Anderson says no ethical officer would ever spread the kind of material that made it into the Enquirer...and he stands behind the department. He also wants a written policy so this kind of thing never happens again.

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