Teton County Deputy Snow Campaigns While Serving Suspension From Sheriff's Office

JACKSON, Wyo. Teton County Sheriff's Deputy Eric Snow remains on the campaign trail for the office of sheriff this week, one week after being placed on administrative leave by the department he seeks to lead.

Lt. Mark Priest, the second-in-command, suspended Snow on Oct. 21 following a traffic stop of a Driggs, Idaho woman. Snow pulled the woman over for speeding and administered a portable breath test after learning she was on release for a June DUI. The test showed her blood alcohol level to be more than twice the legal limit. Snow did not conduct a DUI investigation and instead charged her with violating her previous DUI release order.

In a press release issued after his suspension, Snow cited a policy called fail to act in relation to that arrest. He told reporters he is under scrutiny and chose the path with the strongest legal foundation to support the arrest. A defense attorney cannot argue with a release order violation, he said, but can argue with a DUI charge. Snow is represented by attorney Mark Jackowski, who said he reviewed what the sheriff's office represented as Snow's personnel file and found no pattern of behavior. Jackowski added that the suspension smacks of retaliation.

The incident follows an arrest in July involving a Jackson man charged with speeding and arrested on suspicion of drug-impaired driving. Snow stands by that arrest. A field breath test and evaluation by a drug recognition expert found no evidence of impairment, and the case was referred to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, which advised elevating it to the FBI. The FBI determined the matter did not meet the threshold for a civil rights violation, the sheriff's office said. Carr declined to comment on the pending Idaho woman's case but said his office treats Snow as it would any deputy. The sheriff's office and county attorney's office have declined to release the suspension letter, citing personnel policy.

Carr said he had no role in putting Snow on leave and denied allegations that he weaponized the office. He did say that at least two of Snow's recent arrests reflect a pattern of behavior that is very concerning and not reflective of the type of law enforcement we want in our community. Carr offered to release Snow's personnel file if Snow first agreed, which Snow declined, saying cops are afforded some level of privacy. Priest told KHOL that every arrest deputies make and every report they write is reviewed. He said he was not just picking out Eric's.

Snow accused Carr of violating a Wyoming law that prohibits public officials from using public funds, time, personnel, facilities or equipment for political activity. He pointed to a GOP-sponsored sheriff's debate on Oct. 5 where more than a dozen uniformed officers sat in the back of the library auditorium and applauded after Carr spoke. Snow called the sheriff's request for their presence a crime. Carr said he did not ask deputies to attend and was as surprised as anyone. Priest confirmed deputies were not asked to attend. The three-way race for sheriff includes Carr, a Democrat seeking his third term, Snow, a Republican, and independent Chris Glenn. Election day is next week.