Judge finds no evidence of illegal activity at Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — After a several-month-long inquiry, a judge has determined there is no evidence of mismanagement or illegal activities at the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier this year, an independent inquiry was launched after allegations of misconduct, gross mismanagement, and illegal activity against the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office. Judge Richard McKelvie, with the third district court, conducted the investigation.

Judge McKelvie was contracted by Wasatch County in March of 2025 to review the allegations and to provide an independent report on the scope and nature of the claims.

“Confidence in our law enforcement is imperative,” said Wasatch County Manager
Dustin Grabau. “This independent review was well worth the effort to honor our
commitment to look into and resolve these matters in the most credible way possible.

Over the course of several months, Judge McKelvie interviewed thirty employees within Wasatch County.

During the interviews, McKelvie found there was concern in promotion and hiring, with perceptions of favoritism. Additionally, he found there was a fear of retaliation from those participating in the inquiry and that the Deputy Sheriffs Merit Commission did not appear to be functioning as intended.

Despite highlighting areas of concern, Judge McKelvie found that there was no gross mismanagement or illegal activity within the Sheriff’s Office.

McKelvie did find several areas of improvement where the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office could improve. Those areas included:

• Hiring and Promotion: Perceptions of favoritism and irregularities in the promotion process, including allegations of providing exam information to preferred candidates, have created serious morale issues within the WCSO.
• Deputy Sheriffs Merit System: The current Merit Commission appears to not be functioning as intended by state statute.
• Duty and Shift Assignments: A perception exists within the WCSO that duty and shift assignments are used as rewards or punishments rather than being based on objective criteria.
• Fear of Retaliation: A common theme among those interviewed was a fear of retaliation for cooperating with this inquiry.
• Misuse of County Resources and Equipment: Instances of potential misuse of county funds and equipment, particularly regarding the Sheriff’s secondary employment, raise concerns.
• Investigation Interference: Instances of the Sheriff and/or Undersheriff inserting themselves in investigations and countermanding decisions.
• Interagency Relationships: Relationships with other law enforcement agencies have deteriorated significantly.

Wasatch County says that they have begun to implement recommended improvements by working with responsible departments and updating relevant policies.

Grabau said, “We appreciate Judge McKelvie’s thorough review and recommendations, which
provide a clear path forward to improve operations and perceptions of the Sheriff’s
Office.”

The full report can be found on the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office website.