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March 2023| Vol. 20 Iss. 03
UPD IN CROSSHAIRS
MAYOR FRUSTRATED WITH LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT COULD END STATE’S SECOND LARGEST POLICE FORCE By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com
D
ays appear numbered for Unified Police Department—the second largest police force in the state, which serves nine cities and townships in addition to county-wide services–with the likely passage of HB374, a bill that would dissolve UPD on Jan. 1, 2025. Bill sponsor Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, says he wants to eliminate the agency over concerns with “double taxation,” and “conflict of interest,” which stem from the County Sheriff’s dual functions as sheriff and CEO of Unified Police, according to Teuscher. “You have situations where what might be best for the county may not be the best thing for UPD, and what might be the best thing for UPD may not be the best thing for the county. And with that, conflict of interest,” said Rep. Teuscher during a Feb. 15 House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee hearing. Created in 2009, UPD is an interlocal police agency whose shared services model allows participating municipalities to access specialized public safety services—like K9 units, Forensics, or SWAT—while keeping in place precinct-level autonomy over local enforcement. The model has won deep devotion from its participating parties. “Our whole city recognizes the benefits of sharing services within the municipalities. It provides a far more robust police department for our residents than we would have if we started our own police department,” said Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, UPD board member, addressing the committee. Continued page 4
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HB374 would dissolve the UPD in 2025. UPD board member and Holladay Mayor, Robert Dahle, expressed anger with the legislative process, which he said tilted favor to the bill sponsor and disregarded people in uniform. (City Journals)
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