Hello and Greetings,

December 14, 2025

I have known Aaron Perry for over ten years and have known of him for fifteen years through contact within our respective law enforcement agencies. Aaron is a man of whom I have the greatest respect for, both personally and professionally.

I became the Chief of Police of Roy, Utah in 2015. I needed to fill the position of Deputy Chief of Police and after an extensive search and vetting process, I chose Aaron Perry for the position. At the time I selected him, Aaron was a Sergeant with the Davis County Sheriff's Office, and although most of the other applicants who had applied for the Deputy Chief position were of higher rank and many with more experience, Aaron significantly outshined all of them. Aaron showed a much superior intellect and reasoning ability over all the other candidates, and he made it easy to select him for the position.

As my Deputy Chief, Aaron and I experienced and navigated leading the Roy Police Department from a law enforcement agency that had just experienced losing two prior Police Chiefs for misconduct within an 18-month period. The image of the police department had been challenged both from outside and within and morale was at a very low point. Aaron was vital in connecting to the department members, understanding their concerns within the leadership of the department, and realizing the demoralization they felt from the prior administrations. He quickly gained their trust and respect and was instrumental in turning the department into an organization that people enjoyed working for and had pride in.

During our tenure with Roy P.D., the United States experienced a tumultuous time for law enforcement with an extensive movement for police reform. Along with that movement, we experienced two officer involved shootings in which members of the community questioned both the actions of our officers and the department's handling of the situations. Aaron led the departmental response within the Roy community and through his professional handling of the community's concerns, Roy P.D. was able to come through the entire crisis with more community support than before the events all happened. Aaron showed, compassion, understanding, recognition of the community's concerns, and most of all leadership. He was able to reassure the community Roy P.D. was conducting itself appropriately in policing the community in a collaborative and responsible effort.

I have come to know Aaron Perry as the most ethical person I have ever met, a tireless worker, and an individual who will not accept any effort that is not in the best interests of the community and the organizations he works for. I cannot imagine a more suitable and perfect individual to become the next Sheriff of Davis County and whole-heartedly personally and professionally endorse him for that position.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Car A Merino

Police Chief Carl G. Merino, Ret.