Former Salt Lake County Sheriff Aaron Kennard wasn't going to miss the birth of the unified police department -- not after spending 16 years arguing for metropolitan policing as the county's top cop.
So when the County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to transform the Sheriff's Office into a stand-alone police department governed by the county and cities it protects, Kennard was sitting in the front row.
"Congratulations," he said moments before the decision. "You have finally seen the light."
The County Council signed an agreement Tuesday with Holladay, Herriman and Riverton to create a unified police force that enables cities -- once pushing for more local control -- to dictate law-enforcement budgets and policies. Those cities also will become part owners of the patrol cars, buildings and police-related assets now controlled by the county.
"This is a great day for the county and a great day for the communities that belong to the UPD [unified police department]," Councilman Michael Jensen said. "It is going to be a model for the future."
The new police force will patrol all of the unincorporated county -- including townships such as Magna, Kearns and Millcreek -- plus the cities of Holladay, Herriman and Riverton. It also will provide specialized services such as K-9 and SWAT to Taylorsville.
A question mark still lingers over Bluffdale, however, where officials haven't decided whether to stick with the UPD or pursue police protection elsewhere.
The sheriff now will press forward with a police agency that will serve nearly 250,000 county residents -- the largest population of any local law-enforcement agency jurisdiction in the state. It will include 339 sworn officers and a budget of $45.3 million.
Only the Salt Lake City Police Department is larger with 426 sworn officers and a budget of $59.4 million. While fewer people live within the city than within the UPD area, the capital's daytime population rises to more than 300,000 people.
Councilman Jim Bradley applauded the move to the new UPD.
"We really have taken a remarkable step forward in terms of bringing efficiency to public safety in this valley," Bradley said.
