Riverton, Herriman and Bluffdale collaborate on widening key roadways throughout their southwest corner of the valley, and they recently joined together, with the county, to build a $16.1 million regional recreation center.

They also share police services provided by the Sheriff's Office. But that unity is in for a shake-up.

Riverton is talking about establishing its own precinct. The move would keep its deputies within its boundaries and abandon a practice of sharing its forces with Bluffdale, Herriman and unincorporated Salt Lake County.

But officials also could set up their own police department - Draper and Taylorsville did a few years ago, and Cottonwood Heights is studying a similar move.

"Growth for all three cities is a major driver in all this," Riverton Mayor Bill Applegarth says. "The bigger you become, the more independent you have to become with these kinds of services."

And for his part, Sheriff Jim Winder supports the mayor's attitude.

"At the end of the day, it's hard to argue with someone [who's] going to double their police force," he says. "It will help everyone in the area, including those we service."

But Winder is encouraging Riverton to stay with his office. He says it's the more affordable option.

Sticking with the Sheriff's Office would save Riverton between $1.6 million and $1.8 million in startup costs, but at $3 million to $3.4 million, the sheriff's first-year prices would be slightly higher than Riverton would pay to run its own police department.

A confident Winder said he already has begun to beef up Riverton's force in anticipation the city will stay with the county.

If Riverton creates its own police force, that could mark the exit of one of Winder's last subscribers. Five cities contract with the county, and one of them, Cottonwood Heights, has likewise launched a feasibility study to consider opening its own police department.

Regardless of the outcome, Applegarth says his city will respond to his neighbors' emergency calls.

"Where I see this going is there will only be crossovers on emergencies," Applegarth says. "Then they [Herriman and Bluffdale] will have control of their destiny, just like we'll have control of ours."

Bluffdale Councilman Bill Maxwell says he is not worried about a Riverton pullout.

"Our contract is with the Sheriff's [Office], so if they go on their own, they'll just drop out of that mix," he says. "Our officers won't cross into their territory, and I'm sure they won't cross into ours."

Why the split? In one word: inequity.

The issue erupted earlier this year when Riverton and Herriman grew frustrated with Bluffdale's failure to adequately pay for its share of Sheriff's coverage. The city was immersed in political intrigue as its mayor and council battled over who could run the small community at the valley's extreme south end.

Riverton currently pays for 16 deputies who routinely cross into neighboring territory. Meanwhile, Herriman funds 11 and Bluffdale recently boosted its funding to pay for 3.5 deputies, up one from last year's total.

Bluffdale's force has been too small to cover the city 24/7 - 5.5 deputies would equal one 24-hour car. At 3.5 deputies, Bluffdale is getting 70 percent coverage, Winder said.

That means Herriman- and Riverton-funded deputies get called into Bluffdale to pick up the slack.

"It's frustrated me a great deal," Riverton's Applegarth says.

"Our taxpayers have been supplementing Bluffdale. We thought Bluffdale was going to increase its protection last year to four officers. That didn't happen, and it's been a concern all year long that it didn't happen."

Herriman's equally frus- trated Mayor Lynn Crane wrote a letter to Bluffdale in January calling on the smaller city to act fast.

"Bluffdale has been struggling with some internal problems," Crane acknowledges. "All of us would be pleased if they beefed up the number of deputies they have down there."

Meanwhile, Winder believes Bluffdale would be the only real loser if Riverton bolts. Herriman's 11-deputy force would no longer be sending deputies to Riverton.

"Herriman will come out a winner, and certainly Riverton will," he said. "Bluffdale is going to need to evaluate their service levels."

Despite slow progress in Bluffdale, Crane said he's willing to be patient.

"There will always be a high level of cooperation between the cities," he said. "There are a lot more issues on which we do agree, and we'll be able to work together."

But the mayor did not rule out moving toward an independent Herriman police deal.

"Our city would always keep its options open and evaluate alternatives," Crane said.

sgehrke@sltrib.com