The answer is simple. Community-oriented policing yields better outcomes than county-oriented policing. It permits customization of services to meet local needs and creates a greater sense of accountability to the citizens being served.
A recent Tribune editorial characterized the Cottonwood Heights decision to create its own police department as an exercise in vanity that would result in less service for more cost - a convenient, though inaccurate, description.
The editorial opines that it should be an easy decision to stay with the sheriff's office contract as it is the closest thing to a regional police force in the valley and bigger is better. The editorial writers have forgotten that for nearly two years Cottonwood Heights worked with the county and other contract cities to establish just such a regional police force known as the Unified Police Department.
Ironically, the UPD failed because Sheriff Jim Winder would not support it. It was only after this failure that Cottonwood Heights considered the option of forming its own police department.
Far from an exercise in vanity, the establishment of a Cottonwood Heights police department is a reflection of dissatisfaction with the current service levels and policies of the sheriff's office, its failure to abide by contractual terms and the opportunity to provide improved police services to our citizens.
Instead of realizing significant benefit from the broad resources of the sheriff's office, Cottonwood Heights has subsidized services in White City, Millcreek and other understaffed areas. Such subsidies have for three years reduced coverage and diluted law enforcement resources in our city.
The feasibility study was very conservative in its cost estimates. Even so, the initial year of operating costs will be less per officer than staying with the current county contract.
The decision of the City Council was the result of thorough study and significant public scrutiny. In the end, we will have a lower cost per officer and 20 percent more officers focused on Cottonwood Heights' needs including more detectives to solely work Cottonwood Heights cases. More importantly, no tax increases will be required to support this effort.
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* KELVYN CULLIMORE is mayor of Cottonwood Heights.
