Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera has announced that the county will leave the Unified Police Department (UPD) by 2024.
This move was prompted by a recent bill passed by Utah lawmakers that reinforced the separation of the CEO and the sheriff in a police organization.
The UPD board has expressed concerns over the impact this decision will have on officers and residents in the community.
However, the goal of the bill is to increase transparency and empower the sheriff and local communities.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is expected to separate from the UPD by July 2025, but the UPD board hopes that the separation will happen by July 2024 to ensure a smooth transition for officers and the public.
The reorganization process is expected to raise questions, such as the involvement of the County Council and the financial feasibility for the three cities involved.
Despite the changes, officials emphasize that law enforcement tasked with keeping people safe will still be in place, organized a little differently.
