Reader comments
South Salt Lake urged to disband police

an other option | 1:43 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

an other thing these people in SSL can do is organize a well operated neighborhood watch. the police departments have little to work with and they do the best they can. it's easy to complain to get a problem fixed, its hard to actually fix it yourself.

Why | 4:12 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Every other community in SL County has either gone to its own law enforcement or is thinking about it because of poor service from the Sheriff's Office. There's a lot of things SSL can do and compacts they can make with other agencies to alleviate their crime problem. The demographics and transient traffic in SSL create unique problems for the city. Contracting with the Sheriff's Office will change neither.

South SL Business Owner | 4:16 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I have owned businesses in both South Salt Lake and in Salt Lake and I have been more impressed with the police services in South Salt Lake compared with the "Big City". I agree with the above comments that the citizens need to get more involved in neighborhood watches and not just rely on uniformed officers to do everything. It is easy to complian and blaim someone else for what is the communities responsibility to support those officers.

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 5:12 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

This is an EXCELLENT idea. The Sheriff's Office truly can, and does, offer a better police service. Bigger pockets and less small town politics equals better police service. I hope this can work and more citizens jump on board.

Shamrock | 6:51 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I don't live in SSL, so I don't know what's best to do. But shutting down the police department, from a common sense standpoint, seems to be a bad idea. At least to me.

fr1nk | 8:10 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

We should have a valley wide police force. We have valley wide criminals.

madi | 8:10 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

SSL did have a very good Neighborhood watch, but the city got rid of itï¿½Murray has the same traffic as SSL, but they donï¿½t have the same crime problemsï¿½Why?

Dave | 8:20 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I will say this, South Salt Lake needs as much help as they can get and if the Sheriffs office can provide it then why not look into it.

Jake` | 9:10 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

How did the city shut down the neighborhood watch program??

comment4u | 9:20 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I would have to disagree with "South SL Business Ownerï¿½s" comment of "It is easy to complain and blame someone else for what is the communities responsibility to support those officers" so what you are saying is that the residents should not complain on slow response times? I refer back to the 50 tires that got slashed. A resident saw it happen, called the police and 20-30 min. later the police showed up. Of course during this time more tires got slashed and the vandal got away. What would the residentï¿½s responsibility be there? Go and approach the vandal? Come on! I agree neighborhood watchï¿½s are great, but you can only do so much without risking your on life.

madi | 9:23 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Ask the Mayor, it was called COP (Citizen on patrol) I think a lot had to do with a new Mayor and New Chief....

resident of SSL | 9:40 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

All of you who think the city police are better donï¿½t live in south salt lake. It is a sad city! Its sad that you have a whole block of cars that have been slashed and police take their sweet time getting there, its sad that you have witnesses wanting to make reports about incidents and the police donï¿½t feel like they need to take them, its sad that my house has been broken into three times in one week and nothing came from it, its sad that the police can go out and indorse candidates running for office because the ones they indorse claim they will give them a pay raise even though they are not the best candidate they go out in their uniforms and persuade the vote, its sad that the mayor is scared of the sheriff and lets the sheriff make his decisions for him, south salt lake is a sad city! We need this change! The police have too much power over city officials, they are there to serve us not tell us how we should live our lives!

Fishy I | 9:45 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Part I
I do not live in SSL, however, the comments of the Mayor disturb me greatly. Letï¿½s recap, ï¿½I don't think that this has any support in the council and it definitely doesn't have support by me," he said. "I think our police department is doing an excellent job. We're providing as good a service as can be provided." Earlier in this article it stated, ï¿½ï¿½ the Deseret Morning News in November said South Salt Lake had the highest ratio of violent crime in the state.ï¿½ So the Mayor is not aware of the crime statistics or he is not aware of Goldhardtï¿½s efforts? In addition, if the Mayor is not aware of the crime statistic he SHOULD BE! And if he is aware of it why would he state,ï¿½ ï¿½ I think our police department is doing an excellent job. We're providing as good a service as can be provided." I think the point of Goldhardt is to lower the crime rate. Which I feel should be the Mayorï¿½s concern also. What I read in this article is the Mayor doesnï¿½t seem to be too worried about crime. Perhaps a change is in order.

Fishy II | 9:45 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Part II
For the Mayor to speak on behalf of the city council is a tricky business, ï¿½I don't think that this has any support in the council ï¿½ï¿½, I would like to hear the opinions of the council members in regards to criminal activity in SSL. As an outsider, and based on what I have read, if SSL is indeed one of the highest ratio of violent crime areas in the state, then I have to call it what it is, the current system is NOT working; time to try something else, or dramatically add to it.

Former SSL Resident | 10:19 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

My only complaint about the SSLPD is the absence of the chief during both of the recent shootings. He should have been the media spokesman when these shootings occurred, not a detective. Where's the Chief?

SSL Resident | 10:50 a.m. Feb. 19, 2008

The problem with South Salt Lake is not the police force. Its the slum lords that allow anyone and everyone to live in their property. There is a direct connection between crime and poverty. Clean up all the rentals in SSL and the crime rate will go down.

N/A | 12:28 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

"SSL Resident" I agree with your comment 100%

SSL Resident | 12:55 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

South Salt Lake is a pretty depressing place to live in general and I totally agree with the above "slum lord" comment. I see neglect almost everywhere here (whats the deal with the friggin roads? 3300 S..... just look at it...) but I don't see the police not doing their jobs. Least not in my neighborhood thank God.

To SSL Res | 12:57 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

How do you propose slum lords determine who is acceptable to rent and who is not?

SSL Resident2 | 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Is it that hard to screen your tenants? In my pathetic townhome community I have "neighbors" that move in and are typically gone about 3 months later, either having been evicted or just bailing on their lease. They do stay long enough to annoy the heck out of everyone though. You cant tell me they don't have a history and theres no way to check it.

Former SSL resident | 1:27 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I WAS a third generation resident of South Salt Lake. My grandparents, parents, & myself either bought a home or lived in SSL at one time or another. NO ONE in my family lives there anymore.
The city is an eyesore 4 weeks a year filled with garbage from neighborhood "cleanup", and filled with a high "criminal" element from years and years of allowing anyone to build apartments anywhere they felt the urge. What has happened to these apartments? Mostly out of state out of city owners who could care less about who lives here own them. The few SSL residents who own apartments try very hard to fill their apartments with quality renters. Unfortunatly this is the exception instead of the rule.
Most families opt out of the neighborhood once their children are school aged due to poor schools and low test scores, not to mention the "hoodlums" who are in the schools.
So what has happened to SSL? No one wants to stay, creating a high transient population.
So, so sad because SSL also has a lot to offer. Great quality programs for school children, small town feel, and proximity to everything... gateway, sugarhouse, etc.

Former SSL Resident | 1:39 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

How can this once vibrant working class community become stronger?
I believe that if the city could find a way to start buying off some of the slummy apartments, turning them around to build something that the Salt Lake Area doesn't currently have, (broadway like district (remember the Hale Center Theatre on Main), or something to make it a draw to the Salt Lake Area, they might turn their city around.
Until the city council decides to do something like this, this community will decline even further. Casey Fitts on the city council has made a good start with his building proposal on the west side, but until the police department can catch up with demand, and the city rids itself of the apartment "slums" making the community better will only be a pipe dream. What about making business and apartment owners more accountable for their patrons and tenants?
As for me and my family, after living in SSL for 5 years hoping it would get better and seeing it get worse instead, we decided to move. (We sold our beautiful home.) Having our children grow up in this crime ridden area, was not worth the risk.

change is good thing | 2:46 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I agree with all of you what SSL needs is change. But the city council and the mayor say they will do things but nothing ever gets done. I am glad a citizen is taking part in making a difference because apparently you can't depend on the city council or the mayor! Number one change needs to be the city's leadership!

concernedbiz | 4:48 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

All of the above comments have some merit but most have left the original topic, that of a local police force vs county sheriff coverage. Look at all the cities that have terminated contracts with the sheriffs office. I have a great deal of respecct for the sheriff's office and the work they do, but anyone who thinks that contracting with them wil be the answer to increased patrol and reducing the crime rate better research the other cities in the valley who are forming or have formed their own ploice forces and their reasons for doing so. My business was in the "annexed area" so I have had experience with both departments. Give me SSLPD any day!

justme | 6:17 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Yeah ask the Mayor about the Comunity Policing. When it was voted on as to whether to keep it or not. Mayor Bob Gray as a City Council member at the time was the deciding vote to do away with it. In his campaign to become Mayor he promised to bring back comunity policing. Where is it? I see the SSLP outside of SSL more than I see them in SSL. They are very good at patrolling the street and area where the Mayor lives, and certain council members. I called 911 because there was a gang fight about to erupt. I was put on hold, by the time my call was answered and the police came it was all over. Luckily no one was shot or killed. It is funny how the crime rate has gone up since Bob took office, gave the officers raises, and hired more officers. Crime rate is way up from when Mayor Losser was in office. Bob would be to afraid to replace the SSLPD since they helped him get elected based on his promises to them. To get elected scare tactics were used by Bob Gray. And the police dept. is worse. Interesting!

a concerned resident | 6:40 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

I personally know Mayor Gray, he is a nice guy, however he is the Retired Chief of Police for SSL. He worked for the police deparment for many years before retiring and entering politics. I do live in SSL, and I do not feel safe past 8pm on the street.

The violent crimes are because there is so much riff raff in the city. There are way to many apartments and bars for my taste. Drunk Riff Raff creates crime.

Homer | 9:28 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Some of the most decent and civic-minded people I have ever met live in South Salt Lake. On the other hand, some of the most degraded and degenerate humans I've seen also live in SSL.

If it is going to work for those still living in SSL, residents and their government must be able to control the things that tears down the town: the absentee slum lords, the worn down infrastructure, the meth labs. Sure, it still has an authentic small-town feel, but that can't survive if we only look at cost-benefit analysis and the cold calculations of contracted police protection. It takes a lot of effort to turn things around after they've been falling apart for so long.

Turning everything over to the bean counters at the county level may not accomplish what they're looking for. It's practical to suggest moving to a nicer neighborhood, with a gate. It's impractical to protect one nice family from a street of meth addicts.

Yet, SSL has something worth fighting for, but I don't think the county will fight that fight for you. Larger organizations (like Granite Dist., FHP, etc.) have their own agendas. SSL needs to fight for their own.

justme | 11:50 p.m. Feb. 19, 2008

Ummmm Bob did NOT retire as the Chief of Police. He was asked to step down because he was doing such a bad job.

A concerned citizen | 9:12 a.m. Feb. 20, 2008

I think South Salt Lake has a great police force. I think the problem is that the former mayor cut the community policing and cut back on the police force. Mayor Gray is trying to retore it but the city council needs to be more supportive. I get the feeling that this campaign against the police force is being initiated by Mr. Siwik who is mad at them for something that happened during the last election campaign. I do not wish to go back to having the Sherrif policing our city. Been there, done that and the SSL police are much better. The city council needs to realize that the police department is not "padded" and help them out.

Problem Solver | 11:11 p.m. Feb. 20, 2008

Marshall Law, that fixes the problem and saves money!

TruthSeeker | 5:15 p.m. Feb. 28, 2008

It's very simple to figure out whats going on in SSL, just take the # of Officers per Population's police budgets, square miles covered, there comparative job responsibilities how many they supervise, how many have been fired over the last fourteen years, etc. etc. and compare them to all other cities in the valley including SLC and West Valley and you'll find something is wrong. You look at things that are facts not opinions, like why Gray was forced to retire and is he repeating history as mayor. Why does the few Highway Patrol officers give more DUI tickets in SSL than our own 59+ officers. All these thing can be proven by there records. See how easy it is and then we have found the truth. Most of all this can be found on cities web sites and others from Council Meeting Minutes.

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